A comparative case control study of the determinants of clinical malaria in The Gambia

The massive deployment of life saving malaria interventions has not only resulted in a decline in disease burden but a change in the risk of infection and disease. The study reassesses the importance of known risk factors and reviews demographic and socio-economic determinants of malaria risk in the population.

This was a case-control study involving 150 children with test-confirmed malaria infection recruited from the outpatient clinics of three health facilities (cases) in the Greater Banjul area, The Gambia. One hundred and fifty controls, negative for malaria were matched on age, residence. Information was collected from respondents on the use of long lasting insecticidal nets, occupation, housing structure, knowledge of malaria and socio-demographic factors.

The mean age of study participants was 6.8 (SD 3.3) years with 147 (49%) being males. Significant determinants of malaria risk were parent's occupation: mother as trader (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.04 - 0.73, p = 0.017), father as trader (OR 0.02, 95% CI 0.002- 0.193, p = 0.001), civil servants (OR 0.04, 95% CI 0.008- 0.257, p =0.001) or handyman (OR 0.03, 95% CI 0.005- 0.182, p < 0.001). Children sleeping in rooms with windowpanes had a 76% reduction in their odds of malaria (OR 0.24, 95%CI 0.07- 0.82, p = 0.022.

Household socio-economic status plays an important role in management of illnesses. The ability of mothers to engage in an occupation increases household resources to access healthcare and on time. The balance between the type of mother's occupation and her time available to supervise the child is an interesting emerging issue that needs further investigation.