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MALARIA PREVALENCE IN UNDER FIVE CHILDREN UTILISING INSECTICIDE TREATED NETS THROUGH VOUCHER SCHEME PROGRAMME IN
Insights
Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) significantly reduce malaria prevalence in children under five. Children using ITNs had a 4.2% malaria rate, compared to 30.8% in non-users, demonstrating ITNs
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Malaria remains a significant health concern for children under five.
- Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) are a key malaria prevention tool.
- Understanding ITN effectiveness in specific regions like Mtwara Municipality is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess malaria prevalence in children under five in Mtwara Municipality.
- To compare malaria rates between children who use ITNs and those who do not.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted.
- Data collected from 398 children under five in randomly selected streets of Mtwara Municipality.
- Malaria diagnosis using Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) and microscopy; ITN usage data collected.
Main Results:
- Overall malaria prevalence was 4.5% (RDT) and 5.0% (microscopy).
- Malaria prevalence was significantly lower in consistent ITN users (4.2%) compared to rare/non-users (30.8%) (P < 0.002).
- Anaemia was prevalent (81% below normal hemoglobin levels) among malaria-negative children.
Conclusions:
- ITNs are effective in preventing malaria among children under five in Mtwara.
- The observed malaria prevalence is lower than regional and national averages, indicating ITN impact.
- Targeted strategies against Plasmodium falciparum, a common cause, are recommended.
Objective:
To determine the malaria prevalence in under five year old children, comparing those utilising with those not utilising insecticide treated nets in Mtwara Municipality.
Design:
Descriptive cross-sectional study.
Setting:
Five streets that were randomly selected in Mtwara Municipality.
Subjects:
Three hundred and ninety eight (398) under five year old children.
Results:
In the 398 under five year old children in this study, 18 (4.5%) and 20 (5.0%) tested positive by RDT and microscopy, respectively. Of the 385 who always used Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs), 16 (4.2%) had malaria, compared to four among the 13 who rarely/or never used nets (30.8%). Thus there is a relationship between the use of the treated nets and prevalence of malaria (χ2 P-value 0.002). Inspite of the decline in malaria prevalence anaemia remain a big problem as among those 378 who tested negative for malaria, 81% had haemoglobin level below normal (8 and 11 g/dl).
Conclusion:
Malaria infection has been prevented by the ITNs in under five years children as the prevalence of malaria is only 4.2% among net users compared to 30.8% non net users. The ITNs are useful since the overall five percent prevalence of malaria is less than expected in Mtwara region which had the prevalence of 33.6 percent in 2007 and less to the overall national prevalence of seven percent in under fives in urban areas in 2009. Plasmodium falciparum species is still a notorious cause of the disease among under fives compared to other types, thus the preventive measures should scientifically target this species at large.
