Malaria in central Haiti: a hospital-based retrospective study, 1982-1986 and 1988-1991

A retrospective study conducted at central Haiti's Albert Schweitzer Hospital in the June 1991-January 1992 period sought to assess the numbers of malaria cases seen at the hospital in 1982-1991, the distribution of cases by age and sex in 1988-1991, and the validity of official reports indicating an overall decline in malaria cases. Review of the hospital's laboratory records (1982-1986, 1988-1991), patient medical records (1989-1991), and patient discharge summary cards (1989-1991) revealed a total of 5,251 malaria cases identified through examination of approximately 65,000 blood smears. The largest numbers of cases were diagnosed in 1982 (1,150) and 1988 (980); the smallest numbers in 1990 (120) and 1991 (317). Peak case incidences occurred yearly in the November-January period, a few months after the rainy season. Of the 838 cases found in the 1989-1991 period, 53% occurred in females and 47% in males. Relatively high numbers of cases (averaging 41.1 cases per year of age) were found among children 0-6 years old, with the largest number of cases in any 1-year age group (54 cases) occurring among children 1 year old. (In general, the numbers of cases declined with increasing age.) Eight cases among hospital in-patients ended in malaria-related death, five of these deaths occurring among children 0-6 years old and six involving cerebral malaria (a common complication of P. falciparum infection). Overall, the results of this study support official reports showing a general decline in the number of malaria cases in this region of Haiti between 1982 and 1991.