IMPACTS OF CLIMATE VARIABILITY ON THE INCIDENCE OF MALARIA AND ITS ADAPTATION STRATEGIES IN HARARI TOWN, HARARI REGIONAL STATE, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The dynamics of malaria transmission can be influenced by climatic factors, and in Ethiopia, malaria has been a significant public health issue as well as a barrier to socioeconomic growth. In light of this, this study was carried out in the Harari region to evaluate the effects of climate variability on malaria incidence and measures for adaptation. The historical climate data and malaria incidence were obtained from National Meteorological Agency of Ethiopia and Harari health bureau respectively and mixed research design was employed. In this study, statistical software called SPSS version 20 was used to assess trends and variations in temperature, rainfall, and adaption strategies in relation to malaria incidence. In the research area, the coefficients of variability for belg and yearly rainfall were less variable than those for kiremt seasonal rainfall. However, the observed loss in annual, kiremt, and belg seasonal rainfall trend tests was non-significant and fell by factors of -0.018, -0.013, and - 0.008, respectively. Belg's CV and annual rainfall's respective values were 22.1% and 22.0%, demonstrating that they are both moderately variable. The trend test revealed that the annual maximum temperature, belg, and kiremt all increased by non-significant amounts of 0.088, 0.018, and 0.162 0C, respectively. Belg and the annual average temperature revealed a poor but not statistically significant relationship with malaria in the Sofi district (r=-0.342 and - 0.473). The survey's findings showed that 84.43 percent of participants had a high level of understanding, while the remaining 15.57 percent were ignorant of climate variability's existence and impacts. Furthermore, 48.4% sewage system and 29.7% enhanced solid waste management services were the most effective ways to adjust the impact of climate change on the spread of malaria. Furthermore, due to the municipality's subpar liquid and solid waste management system and residents' laziness in collecting and properly disposing of garbage, 93.41 and 6.59 percent of respondents could have and do not have adaptations to climate variability, respectively. In order to better inform policy decisions for adaptation to climate variability and lessen the severity of malaria infestation in the town, the researcher concludes that more research on the determinants of adaptation strategies measured by town house holds should be conducted