Prevalence of Malaria among in Patient and outPatientsVisited Attat Hospital in Gubre and itssurrounding community, Gurage Zone, South Ethiopi

Abstract

Globally, malaria affects the health and wealth of more than three billion people and causes more than a million deaths annually. In Ethiopia the problem is particularly severe and 68% of the land mass of Ethiopia is estimated to bemalaria risky Consequently,about more than3 million Ethiopians are affected by malaria annually. The findings of this research would help to increase community awareness on how to prevent malaria transmission, and assist physicians and policy makers to give more emphasis on malaria control strategies In this research retrospective and prospective data were collected to see the trend and prevalence of malaria at Gubre and its surrounding community, Gurage zone. The collected data was analyzed quantitatively and experimentally. Over all prevalence of malaria in the retrospective study found to be 28.9%. From the retrospective data analysis, the trends of infection from 2012-2016 was decreasing. However higher malaria infection (45.4%) was recorded in 2013.Higher age related prevalence of malaria was observed in15-44 years age group. Highly difference observed among months in mean number of Plasmodium vivax prevalence in the study area and higher prevalence recorded in a month of November and the least in August. However, there is no difference in Plasmodium falciparum prevalence among months of the studied year. Over all prevalence of malaria in the prospective study was found to be 6.09%. Moreover higher prevalence was observed in less than five and 15-44 years age group and malaria occurrences in females were higher than male. The prevalence of Plasmodium vivax in retrospective and prospective study was19.1% and 5.4% whereas Plasmodium falciparum was 9.9% and 0.95% respectively. Educating people to use all malaria controlling measures including distribution of bed nets prior to the peak months of malaria prevalence would help to control malaria infection in the study area. In addition to this the Government needs to develop new approach, strategies and tools to control malaria.