PREVALENCE OF MALARIA AND ITS ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS AMONG SUSPECTED INDIVIDUALS ATTENDING GAMBELLA REGIONAL HOSPITAL, GAMBELLA TOWN, WESTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Globally malaria remains among the deadliest leading cause of morbidity and mortality. In Ethiopia the public health and socio-economic impact of this disease is huge.This study was aimed at assessing the current situation of malaria and its associated risk factors among patients attending Gambella Regional Hospital. The study was done in a time when malaria prevalence is high: during September to October, 2018. It involved hospital based crosssectional survey of malaria cases, use of retrospective malaria records of patients from Gambella Regional Hospital and metrological records of the last ten years. Furthermore,a structured and pretested questionnaires were used to assess the respondents’ sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, awareness related to the ways of transmission, prevention and their practice and use of insecticide treated nets. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Thick and thin blood films were prepared from 400 individuals to determine malaria prevalence which was 23.8%. P.falciparum and P.vivax were the two major malaria species in the study area accounting for 87.4% and 12.6% respectively. The results of the study confirmed that there was a significant difference in prevalence of malaria between age groups (p<0.050). Additionally, more males (29%) were infected than females (19.6%). Regarding the trends of malaria in the last ten years, it was al most fluctuating. The study showed that, most respondents replied that stagnant water (91%) was the main place were mosquito breed The study participants had high level of knowledge about the sign and symptoms, ways of transmission and prevention methods of malaria. However, they had misconception about causative agent of malaria and a problem of practice and utilization of ITN.Gender, level of education and occupation were significantly associated with prevalence of malaria.The present study also showed that maximum temperature was negatively correlated while minimum temperature, rain fall and relative humidity were positively correlated with malaria prevalence.Malaria was serious puplic health ptoblem in the present study area. Further study on Community based utilization of long lasting insecticide treated nets is importan.