Malaria in Haiti: A descriptive study on spatial and temporal profile from 2009 to 2018

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Tropical Medicine

Background:

• Malaria persists in Haiti, predominantly caused by Plasmodium falciparum.
• Anopheles albimanus is identified as the primary mosquito vector.
• The study focuses on the epidemiological trends of malaria in Haiti from 2009 to 2018.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the epidemiological profile of malaria in Haiti.
• To analyze malaria incidence trends over a ten-year period.
• To highlight data discrepancies between reporting bodies.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of malaria case data reported by Haiti's Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP).
• Inclusion of data from the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Comparative analysis of data from MSPP and WHO for trend consistency.

Main Results:

• A total of 232,479 malaria cases were reported between 2009 and 2018.
• Malaria incidence peaked in 2010 and decreased significantly by 2018 (from 60,130 to 8,978 cases).
• Despite conflicting case numbers between MSPP and WHO, both datasets show a consistent downward trend in malaria incidence.

Conclusions:

• Emphasizes the need for enhanced official data collection and analysis for malaria surveillance.
• Recommends municipal-level epidemiological surveillance for a clearer understanding of malaria's impact.
• Highlights the importance of data accuracy for developing targeted and effective malaria interventions in Haiti.