{"title":"Prevalence of malaria and associated risk factors in Loka Abaya district, Sidama regional state, Southern Ethiopia.","authors":"Siratu Seyoum, Mohamed Esmael","doi":"10.1186/s12936-026-06032-6","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Malaria remains a major public health concern in Ethiopia, despite the widespread use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria, the proportion of Plasmodium species, and the risk factors for disease transmission in the study area.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2023 among 419 participants. Socio-demographic and environmental data were collected using structured questionnaires and observation checklists. Capillary blood samples were examined using rapid diagnostic tests and microscopy. Data were entered into EpiData version 4.6 and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The overall malaria prevalence was 14.6% (95% CI: 11.0-18.0). Plasmodium falciparum accounted for 59.0% of infections, Plasmodium vivax for 36.1%, and mixed infections for 4.9%. Higher prevalence was observed among symptomatic individuals (30.7%) compared to asymptomatic individuals (7.3%). Independent predictors of malaria infection included no formal education (AOR = 2.56; 95% CI: 1.10-5.94), low monthly income (AOR = 2.97; 95% CI: 1.07-8.25), lack of ITN ownership (AOR = 2.56; 95% CI: 1.14-5.75), irregular ITN use (AOR = 2.88; 95% CI: 1.13-7.32), and presence of stagnant water near households (AOR = 2.12; 95% CI: 1.14-3.99).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Malaria remains a significant public health concern in the study area. Strengthening insecticide-treated nets utilization, expanding indoor residual spraying coverage, promoting early diagnosis and prompt treatment, enhancing community awareness, and implementing effective environmental management are essential for reducing malaria transmission. Addressing socio-economic disparities is also crucial for sustainable malaria control and elimination efforts in the area.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7000,"publicationDate":"2026-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13632385/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Malaria Journal","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-06032-6","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"INFECTIOUS DISEASES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Malaria remains a major public health concern in Ethiopia, despite the widespread use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria, the proportion of Plasmodium species, and the risk factors for disease transmission in the study area.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2023 among 419 participants. Socio-demographic and environmental data were collected using structured questionnaires and observation checklists. Capillary blood samples were examined using rapid diagnostic tests and microscopy. Data were entered into EpiData version 4.6 and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: The overall malaria prevalence was 14.6% (95% CI: 11.0-18.0). Plasmodium falciparum accounted for 59.0% of infections, Plasmodium vivax for 36.1%, and mixed infections for 4.9%. Higher prevalence was observed among symptomatic individuals (30.7%) compared to asymptomatic individuals (7.3%). Independent predictors of malaria infection included no formal education (AOR = 2.56; 95% CI: 1.10-5.94), low monthly income (AOR = 2.97; 95% CI: 1.07-8.25), lack of ITN ownership (AOR = 2.56; 95% CI: 1.14-5.75), irregular ITN use (AOR = 2.88; 95% CI: 1.13-7.32), and presence of stagnant water near households (AOR = 2.12; 95% CI: 1.14-3.99).
Conclusion: Malaria remains a significant public health concern in the study area. Strengthening insecticide-treated nets utilization, expanding indoor residual spraying coverage, promoting early diagnosis and prompt treatment, enhancing community awareness, and implementing effective environmental management are essential for reducing malaria transmission. Addressing socio-economic disparities is also crucial for sustainable malaria control and elimination efforts in the area.
期刊介绍：
Malaria Journal is aimed at the scientific community interested in malaria in its broadest sense. It is the only journal that publishes exclusively articles on malaria and, as such, it aims to bring together knowledge from the different specialities involved in this very broad discipline, from the bench to the bedside and to the field.
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