MALARIA TRANSMISSION AND LONG-LASTING INSECTICIDAL NETS UTILIZATION IN QELO VILLAGE, DAWA CHEFA DISTRICT, OROMIYA ZONE: A RETROSPECTIVE AND PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

Malaria is the leading public health problem in Ethiopia. The transmission pattern is heterogeneous and varies between villages. Thereby understanding the local malaria transmission patterns and vector control activities are crucial for implementation of effective malaria control strategies. Therefore, this study focused on assessing the patterns of malaria transmission and its control activities in Qelo village in Dawa Chefa District. A five year (2010 to 2014) retrospective malaria data was obtained from health post record. A prospective study was also employed to describe the prevalence of malaria and its vector control activities in Qelo village. A proportional sample of population from eight sub-villages was included and followed for four months from February 2015 to May 2015 using both passive and active surveillances. 416 households were visited to assess the LLINs coverage and use rate. A total of 756 RDT confirmed malaria cases were recorded from 2010 to 2014. Plasmodium falciparum (87 %; 656 of 756) was the predominant malaria parasite in the village, and it was sharply declined in 2011 and remained low in the successive years. The peak malaria transmission was between September and November, following the rainy months of June-August. During the follow-up study period, 48 febrile cases (18 males and 30 females) were referred to health posts, of which 12 were RDT P. falciparum positive. The positivity rate among the febrile cases for P. falciparum was 25 % (95% CI: 13.6%-39.4%). Eleven Plasmodium positive cases were documented from the study households by passive cases surveillance. P. falciparum was the dominant (9 of 11), followed by P. vivax malaria (2 of 11). The overall prevalence of malaria was 1.17% (95% CI: 0.74%-1.75%). The LLINs coverage of the households was very high (98.8%), while the number of people who slept under LLINs the night before visit was low (50.6%; four months average). However, the bed nets use rate was higher (72%) in < 1 years of age children (were protected by LLINs) than other age groups. The warm environmental condition was the most likely reason (38.5%) for not using LLINs in the night before visit. Moreover, many households (78%) hang mosquito nets outdoors for different purposes (bed nets misuse was common). Finally, there was a considerable discrepancy between LLINs coverage and utilization of the LLIN. Hence, there is a need to work to increase the awareness of community on utilization of bed nets, and minimize LLINs misuse.