Abstract:
Thus, the objectives of the present study were to determine the current prevalence of malaria, to
determine the predominant Plasmodium species, and to assess the major factors that are
associated with the prevalence of malaria among patientsin Meki Health Center, Dugda
District, East Shoa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. A hospital -based cross-sectional
study was conducted at Meki Health Center, during January to March 2022.A pretested and
structured questionnaire survey was carried out to obtain the socio-demographic and other
explanatory variables among the study participants. A total 404 study participants who were
selected using a simple random sampling technique were participated in the questionnaire
survey and blood samples collections.For each study participant both thin and thick blood
smears were prepared for microscopic diagnosis of malaria... In addition, clinical records of
malaria were used to analyses the trends of malaria over the past five years (2017-
2022).Prevalence of malaria was calculated using descriptive statistics.. Those significant
variables by bivariate regression were selected for multivariate logistic regression analysis
using a backward elimination method to avoid the cofounding effect,from a total of 404 blood
samples examined, 12 (3%) samples were found positive for malaria infection.Of these, the
prevalence of P. vivax and P. falciparum infection was 2% and 1%, respectively. Of the
confirmed malaria cases, 66.7% and 33.3% were P. vivax andP. Falciparuminfection,
respectively.Thus, P. vivax was the dominant malaria parasites among the study participants;
andthe prevalence of malaria in males wasgreater thanthat of in females. The results showed
that 25.5%of the study participants had ITNs; and the study participants’ knowledge about sign
and symptoms of malaria were high. Results of the multivariate analyses showed that factors like
use bed net; location of house near to the breading site of the malaria vector; family size; and
house type were identified as associated risk factors for malaria infection in the present study
area.. It is recommended that further efforts are needed with regard to the health care provisions
and awareness creation for proper utilization of ITNs as well as avoiding the misconceptions in
the community about malaria causes; itsmodes of transmission and clinical manifestations; by
health extension workers through community participatory practices as a main strategy
