PREVALENCE AND COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE OF MALARIA IN AFDEM DISTRICT, EASTERN HARARGHE EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Malaria is one of the major public health problems in many tropical developing countries including Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria parasite infection and to assess the people's knowledge and practices about the malaria transmission, prevention and control measures in Afdem District Eastern Hararghe, Eastern Ethiopia. A cross sectional study was carried out from October to December, 2014. Health records of malaria for the last five years (2009-2014) were obtained from Afdem Health Center. A cluster random sampling technique was carried out to select representative study participants among the community members. Structured and pretested questionnaires (n=300) and blood films examinations were used for data collection. All the data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. The overall prevalence of malaria was 17%. Plasmodium species identified in this study was Plasmodium falciparum (66.7%) followed by and P. vivax (33.3%). Malaria parasite infections resulted in sign and symptoms such as joints ache 19(6.3%), shiver 57(17), chill 23(7.6) and others 2(0.6). On Average, 72.3% of the participants had knowledge and awareness about malaria parasite infections. The prevalence of malaria parasite infections were significantly associated (P<0.05) with health education, knowledge about malaria and occupation, whereas sex, family, age, & education were not. Hence, a comprehensive health education and promotion of community education should be given with a special emphasis to assure that individual households use insecticide Treated Nets correctly, adapt integrated vector control approach, and avoid misconception about cause of malaria.