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MSc Thesis
BY:
DELELEGN ZELEKE
HAWASSA UNIVERSITY
HAWASSA, ETHIOPIA
OCTOBER, 2020
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THE PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF MALARIA
BY:
HAWASSA UNIVERSITY
In partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of masters of Science in biology
HAWASSA, ETHIOPIA
October, 2020
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APPROVAL SHEET
SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES
HAWASSA UNIVERSITY
As Thesis Research advisor, I hereby certify that I am read and evaluated this thesis prepared,
under my guidance, by Delelegn Zeleke, entitled: The Prevalence And Associated Factors of
Malaria Infection among Resident of Soro District, Hadiya Zone, and Southern Ethiopia: A
Seven Years Retrospective study. I recommend that it can be submitted as fulfilling of the thesis
requirement.
As member of the Board of Examiners of the M.Sc. Thesis Open Defense Examination, we
certify that we have read and, evaluated the thesis prepared by Delelegn Zeleke and examined
the candidate. We recommended that the thesis be accepted as fulfilling the Thesis requirement
Chairman_________________________Signature________________Date_________________
Internal examiner___________________signature__________________Date______________
External examiner_____________signature_____________Date___________________
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DECLARATION
I hereby declare that this M.Sc. thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a
degree in any other university, and all sources of material used for this thesis have been duly
acknowledged.
Name:
Signature:
Date:
This M.Sc. thesis has been submitted for examination with my approvals advisor.
Signature:
Date:
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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
CI Confidence Interval
EMA Essential Malaria Action
HH Household
N Number
OD Odds ratio
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Firstly, my special thanks go to the Almighty God, who did all things. I would like to thank my
advisor Dr.Melese Birmeka for his nice approach, devoting time and energy, earnest guidance,
suggestion that would give this research a success. I am grateful Hawassa University department
of biology for supporting me by budget. I would like thank Gimbichu primary hospital staff
members and Soro district health office for giving necessary information. I would also thank
Soro district residents those attending Gimbichu primary hospital for their cooperation in my
study and voluntarily necessary response for questionnaire. The last but not the least, I am
thankful to all those who directly or indirectly involved in my research work especially my
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Table of contents
Contents pages
DECLARATION ......................................................................................................................................... iii
ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................................................. x
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 1
vi
3.4. Study population .............................................................................................................................. 27
3.5. Methods of data collection ............................................................................................................... 28
3.6. Data Analysis ................................................................................................................................... 29
3.7. Data quality control.......................................................................................................................... 29
3.8. Ethical Considerations ..................................................................................................................... 30
4. RESULTS ............................................................................................................................................... 31
8. APPENDIX ............................................................................................................................................. 56
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LIST OF TABLES
...................................................................................................................................................... .32
Table 2: Risk factors characteristics of study participants in Soro district, southern Ethiopia
................................................................................................................................................. …..34
Table 3: Logistic regression analysis of the risk factors related the with prevalence of malaria
................................................................................................................................................... …36
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Location map of the Soro district (source: Soro woreda Administration) .................... 26
Figure 3: Malaria prevalence from suspected patients in Soro district (2013-219). ..................... 39
Figure 4:Trends of malaria cases by plasmodium species distribution between 2013- 2019 ....... 40
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ABSTRACT
Malaria is major health problem in the world particularly in developing countries including
Ethiopia which is a leading cause of illness and deaths. In Ethiopia different control measures
have been taken but, it is still the health problem of Population. Hence, this study aimed to
determine the prevalence and associated factors of malaria infection among resident of Soro
district, Hadiya Zone Southern Ethiopia. A seven-year (2013-2019) malaria data had been
collected from Gimbichu primary hospital laboratory registration book and current institutional
based cross-sectional study data was collected from 403 malaria suspected patients in this
gather information of respondents and blood samples by laboratory technicians. Finally, the
data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Logistic regression analysis was
performed to examine the association of risk factors with malaria positivity. From retrospective
study 65,221 cases were examined of these 29,663(45.5%) were positive for malaria and from
these 55.3% P.falciparum, 40.6% P.vivax and 4.1% mixed infection. The current institutional
based cross-sectional study overall prevalence of malaria was 17.87 %, (86.1% P.vivax, 8.3%
P.falciparum and 5.5% mixed infection). In logistic regression analysis risk factors like
residence live in rural, presence of pregnancy, less income level, absence of LLINs, less NO of
LLINs, presence of mosquito breeding site near to houses, and housing condition were
was seen in the study area. Therefore, effective malaria control measures should be implemented
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1. Introduction
1.1. Background
Malaria is one of the most dangerous vector-borne diseases (Stratton et al., 2008). It remains a
major public health problem in many countries of the world. According to the latest World
Health Organization (WHO) estimates, released in December 2015, there were 212 million cases
of malaria in 2015 and 429,000 deaths. Between 2010 and 2015 malaria incidence among
populations at risk fell by 21% globally, during the same period, malaria mortality rates among
population at decreased by 29%. An estimated 6.8 million malaria deaths have been averted
The WHO Africa region continues to carry a disproportionately high share of the global malaria
burden. In 2015, the region home to 90% of malaria cases and 92% of malaria deaths. Some 13
countries mainly in sub-Saharan Africa account for 76% of malaria cases and 75%deaths
globally. In areas with high transmission of malaria, children under five are particularly
susceptible to infection, illness and deaths, more than two thirds (70%) of all malaria deaths
occur in this age group between 2010 and 2015, the under-five malaria deaths rate fell by 29%
globally (WHO,2015).
Malaria is a serious and sometimes a fatal disease caused by a parasite that commonly infects a
certain type of mosquito which feeds on humans. People who get malaria are typically very sick
with high fevers, shaking, chills (feeling of being cold), and flu-like illness (flu-means infectious
disease like a very bad cold, that causes fever pains and weakness) (Gupta et al., 2015). Malaria
P.falciparum, P. vivax, P. malaria and P. Oval and P. Knowlesi (WHO, 2015). Plasmodium
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falciparum and P. vivax are the major malaria parasites (MIS, 2011), Anopheles arabiensis the
The problem of malaria is very large in Ethiopia where it has been the major cause of illness and
death for many years (Dawit et al, 2012).In 2014/2015, the annual performance report showed
the total number of laboratory confirmed plus clinical malaria cases were 2,174,707.Of those
cases 1,867,059(85.9%) were confirmed by either microscopy or rapid diagnostic tests (RDT)
out of which 1,188,627(63.7%) were P.falciparum and 678,432(36.3%) P.vivax and 662 malaria
deaths were among all age groups (PMI, 2017). The 2015 MIS data indicated that parasite
prevalence in Ethiopia was 0.5% by microscopy and 1.2% by RDTs for areas below 2,000
meters of altitude and less than 0.1% prevalence above 2,000 meters.
Malaria transmission exhibits a seasonal and unstable (unbalanced) pattern in Ethiopia, with
transmission varying with altitude and rainfall. The major malaria transmission season in the
country is from September to December, following the main rainy season from June/July to
September. There is a shorter transmission season from April to May following the shorter rainy
season in some parts of the country. Currently, areas bellow 2,000 meters of altitude are
considered malarious (NSPMPC, 2010). Since peak malaria transmission often coincides with
the planting and harvesting season, and the majority of malaria burden is among older children
and working adults in rural agricultural areas, there is a heavy economic burden in Ethiopia
(PMI, 2017).
The risk of malaria infection is depends on living environment such as housing condition and
breeding sites. Furthermore, the inadequate use of control measure, low income, illiteracy, land
use and the house material play a big role (Stratton et al., 2008; Yamamoto et al., 2010). Factors
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that may cause outbreaks of malaria was, migration of infected people into vector rich area
populated with susceptible individuals, arrival of new efficient vectors, breakdown of vector
control measures, resistance of the parasites to treatment and resistance of the vectors to
The most important components for reducing burden of malaria include: more sensitive
diagnostic tools, effective use of anti-malarial drugs and improved personal protection and
mosquito vector control (FMOH, 2012). The main vector control activities implemented in
Ethiopia includes; Indoor Residual Spray (IRS), Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLIN‟s)
Even though, the presence of a control and prevention program, the majority of Ethiopian
population is still at risk from malaria including the Hadiya zone, Soro district. According to the
district health office report, malaria is one of the leading public health problems in Soro district.
This is due to the favorable climatic conditions for survival of Anopheles mosquitoes and
availability to the mosquito breeding site. Therefore, this study was aim at assessing malaria
reported cases in Gimbichu primary hospital in the past seven years (2013-2019) and for the
current situation of prevalence malaria infection and risk factor, institutional based cross
Malaria control and interventions have been implemented and the recent past and intensified as
an efforts to attain the World Health Assembly, Roll Back Malaria, Millennium Development
Universal targets with the aim of reducing and interrupt disease transmission in Sub Saharan
Africa including Ethiopia. In Ethiopia including Soro district using there are different types of
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malaria control measures such as the use of Artemisinin combine therapy(ACT), the use of
implemented. Also, the aim of PMI also to reduce malaria morbidity and malaria related
mortality by 70% by 2015 through scaling up coverage of proven malaria prevention and control
Despite of all these efforts yet malaria is still the public health problem of Soro district which
causes serious health problem, as a result of health problem caused by malaria disease increasing
students‟ absenteeism from school during malaria epidemics significantly reduces learning
capacity of students, death of children under age 5 years, sickness in pregnant women, adults
that cause not to produce in their full potential during malaria season, the high morbidity and
mortality rate in the adult population significantly reduces production activities which cause the
famine and poverty. This verifies that there could be several reasons for this situation in areas
where laboratory facilities are lacking, clinical diagnosis and rapid diagnostic test (RDT) are
factors and low effectiveness of these interventions than expected. Hence, this study attempted to
examine association factors contributing to this problem and determine the prevalence of malaria
infection. Hence, retrospective study from 2013-2019 and institutional based cross-sectional
study would be carried out from October 2019-January, 2020 among patients visiting Gimbichu
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1.3. Objectives of the study
To assess the prevalence and associated factors of the malaria infection among
retrospective study.
To determine the prevalence of malaria parasite that causes malaria disease in study
area.
To identify the risk factors that may contribute to malaria transmission in the area.
To assess the trends of malaria infection for the past seven years (2013– 2019)
What was the prevalence of malaria infection among patients visiting Gimbichu
primary hospital?
What is the trend of malaria infection in the past seven years (2013-2019)?
This study will have an important input in determining the prevalence of malaria infection and
risk factors so as to develop effective intervention for controlling transmission of malaria. The
research findings will also serve as a starting point to enable other researcher to conduct further
studies on prevalence and risk factor of malaria parasite infection in the study area. The study
finding would contribute basic and current information about prevalence of malaria infection and
it might aid the, NGOs and other concerned bodies with valuable information in the planning and
implementation of intervention activities to prevent and control malaria infection. It can also be
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valuable to the association working in health care professional specifically health extension
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2. LITERATURE REVIEW
Malaria is a life threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the
bites of infected female mosquitoes. Most deaths are caused by P. falciparum because P. vivax,
P. ovale and P. malariae generally cause a milder form of malaria. The species P.Knowlesi
About 3.2 billion people almost half of the world‟s populations are at risk of malaria. Young
Children, pregnant women and non-immune travelers from malaria-free areas are particularly
vulnerable to the disease when they become infected. Malaria is preventable and curable, and
increased efforts are dramatically reducing the malaria burden in many places (WHO, 2016).
Between 2000 and 2015, malaria incidence among population at risk (the rate of new cases) fell
by 37% globally. In the same period malaria death rates among populations at risk fell by 60%
globally among all age groups and by 65% among children under five. In 2015 the region was
home to 88% of malaria cases and 90% of malaria death (WHO, 2016). Malaria is caused by
Plasmodium parasites. The parasites are spread to people through the bites of infected female
Anopheles mosquitoes. The mosquito bites introduce the parasite from the mosquito‟s saliva into
In 2015, approximately 3.2 billion people-nearly half of the world‟s population were at risk of
malaria. Most of malaria cases and deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa. However, Asia, Latin
America and to a lesser extent the Middle East are also at risk. In 2015 97 countries and
territories had ongoing malaria transmission. Some population groups are at considerably higher
risk of contracting malaria, and developing severe disease than others. These include infants,
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children under five years of age, pregnant women and patients with HIV/AIDS as well as non
Malaria transmission occurs in all six continents except Antarctica regions. Globally, an
estimated 3.3 billion people in 97 countries and territories are at risk of being infected with
malaria and developing disease, and 1.2 billion are at high risk (WHO, 2014).
According to World Health Organization report (WHO, 2016), in 2015 an estimated 212 million
cases, 429,000 deaths occurred globally, 92% WHO Africa region followed by WHO South East
Asia region 6% and the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region 2%. Almost all deaths (99%)
resulted from P. falciparum malaria. Plasmodium vivax is estimated to have been responsible for
3,100 deaths in 2015, with most (86%) occurring outside Africa. An estimated 303, 000 malaria
deaths were occurred in children age under 5 years. Malaria mortality rates are estimated to have
declined by 62% globally between 2000 and 2015 and by 29% between 2010 and 2015. In
children age under 5 years, they are estimated to have fallen by 69% between 2000 and 2015 and
by 35% between 2010 and 2015. At the beginning of 2016, malaria was considered to be
Most malaria cases in 2017 were in the WHO African Region (200 million or 92%), followed by
the WHO South-East Asia Region with 6% of the cases and the WHO Eastern Mediterranean
Region with 2%. Fifteen countries in Africa and India carried almost 80% of the global malaria
burden. Five countries accounted for nearly half of all malaria cases worldwide (WHO, 2018):
Nigeria (25%), Democratic Republic of the Congo (11%), Mozambique (5%), India (4%) and
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Uganda (4%). The 10 highest burden countries in Africa reported increases in cases of malaria
in 2017 compared with 2016. Of these, Nigeria, Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of the
Congo had the highest estimated increases, all greater than half a million cases. In contrast, India
reported 3 million fewer cases in the same period, a 24% decrease compared with 2016.
Rwanda has noted estimated reductions in its malaria burden, with 430,000 fewer cases in 2017
than in 2016, and Ethiopia and Pakistan estimated decreases of over 240,000 cases over the same
period. The incidence rate of malaria declined globally between 2010 and 2017, from 72 to 59
cases per 1000 population at risk. Although this represents an 18% reduction over the period, the
number of cases per 1000 population at risk has stand at 59 for the past 3 years. The WHO
African Region accounted for 93% of all malaria deaths in 2017. Although the WHO African
Region was home to the highest number of malaria deaths in 2017, it also accounted for 88% of
the 172,000 fewer global malaria deaths reported in 2017 compared with 2010 (WHO,2018).
The Sub-Saharan Africa carries a disproportionally high share of the global malaria burden. In
Organization, 2018). Africa the greatest burden of malaria cases and deaths, an
estimated 60% of all cases and over 80% of malaria deaths occur in sub Saharan
falciparum 93% of which principal vectors are anopheles, and estimated that
one million of people in Africa die from malaria each year and most of these are
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In 2015 the region was home to 88% of malaria cases and 90% of malaria death. Most of
malaria cases and deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa (WHO, 2016).The vast majority of deaths
occur in sub-Saharan Africa where malaria also presents major obstacles to social and
economic developments. There are at least 300 million acute cases of malaria each year
Malaria is a major public health problem in Ethiopia (FMOH, 2009). More than 75% of the total
area of Ethiopia is malarias, and 54 million people are vulnerable (Aschalew and Tadesse, 2016).
According to the World Malaria Report of 2012, more than 60% of the Ethiopian population was
at risk of malaria, and approximately 62% of all malaria cases were due to p. falciparum. P.
Anopheles arabiensis, a member of the An. gambiae complex, is the primary malaria vector in
Ethiopia, with An. funestus, An. pharoensis and An. nili as secondary vectors. An. nili can be an
important vector for malaria, particularly in Gambella Regional State. An. pharoensis is widely
distributed in Ethiopia and has shown high levels of insecticide resistance, but its role in malaria
Peak malaria transmission occurs between September and December in most of Ethiopia, after
the main rainy season from June to August. Certain areas experience a second “minor” malaria
transmission period from April to June, following a short rainy season from February to March.
January and July typically represent low malaria transmission seasons (PMI, 2015).The
The transmission levels vary from place to place because of differences in altitude and rainfall
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patterns. Although, malaria distribution largely determined by altitude through its effect on
There are four major eco-epidemiological strata of malaria in the country are: Malaria free
highland areas above 2,500 meter altitude, Highland fringe areas between 1,500 – 2,500 meter
(which are affected by frequent epidemics), Lowland areas below 1,500 meters (with seasonal
pattern of transmission) and, Stable malaria areas (characterized by all year round transmission)
limited to the western lowlands and river basins (FMOH, 2006).Risk of malaria is highest in
western lowland of Oromia, Amahra, Tigray, and almost the entire region of Gambella and
Benishangul Gumuz regions. Some small scale studies have documented on malaria parasite
Oromia; and 5.4% in Southern Nation Nationality and People Region in all age groups
In the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region (SNNPR), Ethiopia about 65% of the
population is living in malaria endemic areas (FMOH, 2012). In the region, malaria is the
primary cause of outpatient and inpatient consultations and hospital deaths (SNNPR, 2013).
Malaria in humans is caused by five species of parasites belonging to the genus Plasmodium; P.
falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae and P. ovale are human malaria species that are spread from
one person to another via the bite of female mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles. In recent years,
human cases of malaria due to P. Knowlesi have been recorded; this species causes malaria
among monkeys in certain forested areas of South-East Asia. Current report suggests that P.
Knowlesi malaria is not spread from person to person, but rather occurs in people when an
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Anopheles mosquito infected by a monkey then bites and infects humans (zoonotic transmission)
( WHO, 2015).
Plasmodium falciparum and p. Vivax malaria pose the greatest public health challenge. P.
Falciparum is most prealvent on the African continent, and is responsible for most deaths from
malaria. P. Vivax has a wider geographic distribution than p. Falciparum because it can develop
in the anopheles mosquito vector at lower temperatures, and can survive at higher altitudes and
in cooler climates. It also has a dormant liver stage (known as a hypnozoite) that enables it to
survive for long periods as a potential reservoir of infection. The hypnozoites can activate
months later to cause a relapse. Although p. Vivax can occur throughout Africa, the risk of
infection with this species is quite low, because of the absence in many African populations of
the Duffy gene, which produces a protein necessary for p. Vivax to invade red blood cells. In
many areas outside Africa, infections due to p. Vivax are more common than those due to p.
All four species of plasmodium are known to occur in Ethiopia. However, p. Falciparum and p.
Vivax are the most dominant malaria parasites in the country, accounting for 60% and 40% of
malaria cases, respectively. P. Malariae accounts for less than 1% and p. Ovale is rarely reported
(NSPMCP, 2010).
Anopheles arabiensis, An. funestus, An. Gabiaesi, An. melas, An. merus, An. moucheti and An.
nili have been reported as the dominant vector species in Africa. Among these, An. gambiaesis
and An. arabiensis are the most efficient vectors in malaria transmission (Hay et al., 2010).
Small, temporary, clear, sunlit and shallow fresh water pools are necessary for the breeding of
An. arabiensis the dominant vector in Ethiopia (Abebe et al., 2012; Fekadu et al., 2013).
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Moreover, temperature and moisture (measured as precipitation or humidity) are the key
environmental determinants for the vector life cycle (Depinay et al, 2004). The malaria vector
requires water to complete its life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, and the adult (Jaston, 2004).
gambiae) is major malaria vector in Ethiopia. It is widely distributed in the country and is
usually the vector of epidemic malaria. Anopheles arabiensis mainly breeds in small, temporary,
and sun-lit water collections such as rain pools. It becomes abundant at the beginning and end of
the big rainfalls. However, it can also breed in a wide variety of other types of water bodies. It is
found in all parts of Ethiopia both in lowland as well as in the highland areas up to 2000 m above
play a secondary role in malaria transmission along with Anopheles funestus and Anopheles nili.
It is mostly found in the lake and reservoir area and its density increases after September when
the density of Anopheles arabiensis starts to fall (FMOH, 2014). Anopheles funestus is a highly
adaptable species, allowing it occupies and maintain its wide distribution and utilize and conform
to the many habitat and climatic condition. Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles funestus is
thought to occur frequently in locality along swamps of Baro and Awash River and shores of
lakes Tana in the north and the Rift valley however, it appears to have a more ubiquitous range
(FMOH, 2014).Anopheles nili was first described in Ethiopia in the Gambella region. Larvae of
all members of the An. Nili complex are found in vegetation at the edges of fast flowing streams
and are more abundant along rivers in degraded forest and savannah (FMOH, 2014).
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2.8. The Life Cycle of Malaria Parasite
The malaria parasite has a complex, multistage life cycle occurring within two living things, the
vector mosquitoes and the vertebrate hosts. The survival and development of the parasite within
the invertebrate and vertebrate hosts, in intercellular and extracellular environment is made
possible by a toolkit (a set of tools in a box or bag) of more than 5000 genes and their specialized
proteins that help the parasite to invade and grow within multiple cell type and to evade (avoide)
Mosquitoes are the definitive hosts for the malaria parasites where in the sexual phase of the
parasites life cycle occurs. The sexual phase is called sporogony and results in the development
in numerable infecting forms of the parasite within the mosquito that induce disease in the
human host following their injection with the mosquito bite. When the female anopheles draws a
blood meal from an individual infected with malaria the male and female gametocytes of the
parasite find their way into the gut of the mosquito. The Molecular and cellular changes in the
gametocytes help the parasite to quickly adjust to the insect host from the warm-blooded human
host and then to initiate the sporogonic cycle (Carolina and Sanjeev, 2005).
The male and female gametes fuse in the mosquito gut to form zygotes, which subsequently
develop into actively moving ookinetes that burrow into the mosquito mid gut wall to develop
into oocysts. Growth and division of each oocyst produces thousands of active haploid forms
called sporozoites. After the sporogonic phase of 8-15 days, the oocyst bursts and releases
sporozoites into the body cavity of the mosquito, from where they travel to and invade the
mosquito salivary glands. When the mosquito thus loaded with sporozoites takes another blood
meal, the sporozoites get injected from its salivary glands into the human blood stream, causing
malaria infection in the human host. It has been found that the infected mosquito and the parasite
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mutually benefit each other and there by promote transmission of the infection. The plasmodium
infected mosquitoes have a better survival and show an increased rate of blood feeding,
particularly from an infected host (Carolina and Sanjeev, 2005). With the mosquito bite, tens to a
few hundred invasive sporozoites are introduced into the skin, following the intradermal
deposition some sporozoites are destroyed by the local macrophages, some enter the lymphatics,
and some others find a blood vessel (Ashley et al., 2008). The sporozoites that enter a lymphatic
vessel reach the draining lymph node where in some of the sporozoites partially develop into
exoerythrocytic stage (Ashley et al., 2008) and may also prime the T cells to mount a protective
The sporozoites that find a blood vessel reach the liver within a few hours. It has recently been
show that the sporozoites travel by a continuous sequence of stick-and-slip motility, using the
thrombospondin- related anonymous protein (TRAP) family and an actin-myosin motor. The
sporozoites then negotiate through the liver sinusoids, and migrate into a few hepatocytes, and
then multiply and grow within parasitophorous vacuole. Each sporozoite develops into a schizont
The growth and development of the parasite in the liver cells is facilitated by a favorable
environment created by the circum sporozoites protein of the parasite. The entire pre-
erythrocytic phase lasts about 5-16 days depending on the parasite species: on an average 5-6
days for P.falciparum, 8 days for P.vivax, 9 days for P. ovale, 13 days for P. malariae and 8-9
The merozoites that develop within the hepatocyte are contained inside host cell-derived vesicles
called merosomes that exit the liver intact thereby protecting the merozoites from phagocytosis
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by kupffer cells. These merozoites are eventually released into the blood stream at the lung
capillaries and initiate the blood stage of infection thereon. In P.vivax and P. ovale malaria, some
of the sporozoites may remain dormant for months within the liver. Termed as hypnozoites, these
forms develop into schizonts after some latent period, usually of a few weeks to months. It has
been suggested that these late developing hypnozoites are genotypically different from the
sporozoites that cause acute infection soon after the inoculation by a mosquito bite and in many
patients cause relapses of the clinical infection after weeks to months (Olivier et al., 2008). Red
blood cells are the center stage for the asexual development of the malaria parasite. Within the
red blood cells repeated cycles of parasitic development occur with precise periodicity and at the
end of each cycle, hundreds of fresh daughter parasites are released that invade more number of
red blood cells. The merozoites released from the liver recognize, attach and enter the red blood
disappearance from the circulation into the red cells minimizes the exposure of the antigens on
the surface of the parasite there by protecting these parasite forms from the host immune
The invasion of the merozoites into the red cells is facilitated by molecular interactions between
distinct ligands on the merozoite and host receptors on the erythrocyte membrane. P.vivax
invades only Duffy blood group positive red cells, using the Duffy-binding protein and the
reticulocyte homology protein, found mostly on the reticulocytes. The more virulent P.
falciparum uses several different receptor families and alternate invasion pathways that are
highly redundant. Varieties of duffy binding –like (DBL) homologous proteins and the
receptors other than the duffy blood group or the reticulocyte receptors. Such redundancy is
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helped by the fact that P.falciparum has four duffy binding-like erythrocyte-binding protein
genes, in comparisons to only one gene in the DBL-EBP family as in the case of P.vivax
allowing P. falciparum to invade any red blood cell (Ghislaine et al., 2009).
The process of attachment, invasion and establishment of the merozoite into the red blood cells is
made possible by the specialized apical secretary organelles of the merozoite, called the
micronemes, rhoptries and dense granules. The initial interaction between the parasite and the
red cells stimulates a rapid “wave” of deformation across the red cell membrane, leading to the
formation of a stable parasite-host cell junction. Following this, the parasite pushes its way
through the erythrocyte bilayer with the help of the actin myosin motor, proteins of the
parasitophorous vacuole to seal itself from the host cell cytoplasm thus creating a hospitable
environment for its development within the red cell, at this stage the parasite a appear as an
Within the red blood cells the parasite numbers expand rapidly with a sustained cycling of the
Parasite population. Even though the red blood cells provide some immunological advantage to
the growing parasite, the lock of standard biosynthetic path ways and intra cellular organelles in
the red blood cells tend to create obstacles for the fast-growing intra cellular parasites. These
impediments are overcome by growing ring stages by several mechanisms: by restriction of the
nutrient to the abundant hemoglobin, by dramatic expansion of the surface area through the
formation of a tub vesicular network, and by export of a range of remodeling and virulence
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Hemoglobin from the red blood cell, the principal nutrient for the growing parasite, is ingested in
to a food vacuole and degraded. The amino acids thus made available are utilized for protein bio
synthesis and the remaining toxic heme is detoxified by heme polymerase and sequestrated as
hemozoin (malaria pigment). The parasite depends on anaerobic glycolysis for energy, utilizing
enzymes such as Plasmodium lactose dehydrogenase (PLDH), plasmodium aldolase etc. As the
parasite grows and multiplies with in red blood cell the membrane permeability and cytosolic
These new permeation path way induced by the parasite in the host cell membrane help not only
in the uptake of solutes from the extra cellular medium but also in the disposal of metabolic
wastes, and in the origin and maintenance of electro chemical ion gradients. At the same time,
the premature hemolysis of the highly permeabilized infected red blood cells is prevented by the
excessive ingestion, digestion and detoxification of the host cell hemoglobin and its discharge
out of the infected RBCs through the new permeation path ways, there by preserving the osmotic
The erythrocyte cycle occurs every 24 hours in case of P. Knowlesi, 48hours in cases of P.
Falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale and 72 hours in case of P. malariae. During each cycle, each
merozoite grows and divided within the vacuole in to 8-32 (average 10) fresh merozoites,
through the stages of ring, trophozoites and schizont. At the end of the cycle, the infected red
blood cells rupture, releasing the new merozoites that in turn infected more RBCs. With sun
bridled growth, the parasite number can rise rapidly to levels as high as 1013 per host (Brian et
al., 2008). A small proportion of asexual parasites do not undergo schizogony but differentiate in
to the sexual stage gametocytes. These male or female gametocytes are extracellular and
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nonpathogenic and help in transmission of the infection to others through the female anopheline
mosquitoes, where in they continue the sexual phase of the parasites life cycle.
The socioeconomic burden resulting from malaria disease is huge: 1) the high morbidity and
mortality rate in the adult population significantly reduces production activities; 2) the
prevalence of malaria in many productive parts of the country prevents the movement and
settlement of people in resource -rich low-lying river valleys; exposing a large population of the
country to repeated droughts, famine and overall hopeless poverty; 3) the increased school
coping with malaria epidemics substantially increases public health expenditures (Wakgari et al.,
2006). There are three principal ways in which malaria can contribute to death in young children
unconsciousness (cerebral malaria), may kill a child directly and quickly. Second, repeated
malaria infections contribute to the development of severe anemia, which substantially increases
the risk of death. Third, low birth weight – frequently the consequence of malaria infection in
pregnant women – is the major risk factor for death in the first month of life (RBM, 2003). In
addition, repeated malaria infections make young children more susceptible to other common
childhood illnesses, such as diarrhea and respiratory infections, and thus contribute indirectly to
December and April to May coinciding with major harvesting season with serious consequences
for the subsistence Economy of Ethiopia‟s countryside, and for the nation in general (Wakgari et
al., 2006).
19
2.10. Risk Factors to Malaria Infection
Malaria transmission in Ethiopia occurs mainly at altitudes < 2000 m, although endemic regions
> 2000 m have been reported (MOH; 2010).The levels of malaria risk and transmission intensity,
however, show marked seasonal, inter-annual and spatial variability, with the exception of the
southwestern international border low land area where transmission is year-around (Zhou et al.,
2016). Malaria risk factor becomes higher in rural areas of developing countries (Donnelly et al.,
2005). A large number of malaria causing factors including the proximity to the vector breeding
site, the inadequate use of control measure, low income, illiteracy, land use and the house
material play a big role (Straton et al., 2008). Malaria occurrence is higher in low income people.
(WHO, 2012) suggested that these people are characterized by low access to health care facilities
and lack of financial means to pay for vector control technologies such as ITNs and IRS and
Anti-malarial drugs. The same groups of people were characterized by bad quality of house
material that favors anopheles mosquito (Yamamoto et al., 2010). The development of drug
resistance to commonly used anti-malarial drugs is a principal factor which increases the chance
for parasites to evolve and become resistant to the other medicine which poses one of the greatest
threats to malaria control and has been linked to recent increases in malaria prevalence. Drug
resistance has been confirmed in only two of the four human malaria parasite species, P.
falciparum and P. vivax (Yarcho, 2011). The study done on the household risk factors for
malaria among children in the Tigray, Ethiopian highlands had shown that malaria transmission
varied from village to village and even from family to family in the same village. In this case,
housing conditions like earth roof, animal sleeping in the house, windows, open eaves, no
separate kitchen and one sleeping room were significantly associated with malaria (Gebreyesus
et al., 2000).The risk of malaria infection is significantly depends on living environment such as
20
housing condition and breeding sites. Furthermore, the inadequate use of control measure, low
income, illiteracy, land use and the house material play a big role (Stratton et al., 2008;
According to a 2005 review, due to the high levels of mortality and morbidity caused by malaria
especially the P. falciparum species it has placed the greatest selective pressure on the human
genome in recent history. Several genetic factors provided some resistance to it including sickle
cell trait, thalassaemia traits, glucos-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, and the absence of
Duffy antigens on red blood cells (Kewaiatkowski, 2005).The impact of sickle cell trait on
malaria immunity illustrates some evolutionary trade-offs that have occurred because of endemic
malaria. Sickle cell trait causes a change in the hemoglobin molecule in the blood. Normally red
blood cells have a very flexible biconcave shape that allows them to move through narrow
capillaries, however, when the modified hemoglobin molecules are exposed to low amounts of
oxygen or crowd together due to dehydration, they can stick together forming stranding that
cause the cell to sickle or distort into a curved shape . In these stands the molecule is not as
effective in taking or releasing oxygen, and the cells not flexible enough to circulate freely. In
the early stages of malaria the parasite can cause infected red cells to sickle, and so they are
removed from circulation sooner. This reduces the frequency with which malaria parasite
complete their life cycle in the cell. Individuals who are homozygous (with two copies of the
abnormal hemoglobin beta allele) have sickle- cell anemia, while those who are heterozygous
(with one abnormal allele and one normal allele) experience resistance to malaria without severe
anemia. Although the shorter life expectancy for those with the homozygous condition would
21
tend to disfavor the traits survival, the trait is preserved in malaria prone regions because of the
Methods uses to prevent malaria infection include medications, mosquito eliminating and the
preventive of bites of anopheles mosquitoes. According to WHO (2016), Cases of malaria can be
most commonly used methods to prevent mosquito bites are sleeping under an ITNs and
spraying the inside walls of a house with an insecticide – IRS. These two core vector-control
interventions- use of ITNs and IRS are considered to have made a major contribution to the
reduction in malaria burden since 2000, with ITNs estimated to account for 50% of the decline in
parasite prevalence among children aged 2-10 years in sub-Saharan Africa between 2001 and
2015. The 7% in 2015 compared with 37% in 2010. For countries in sub-Saharan Africa, it is
estimated to proportion of the population in sub-Saharan Africa protected by vector control was
estimated at 53% of the population at risk slept under an ITNs in 2015, increasing from 5% in
2005 and from 30% in 2010. The proportion of households with one or more ITNs increased to
79% in 2015.Insecticide based vector control remains a key component of malaria prevention
and control in Ethiopia. The two major vector control intervention implemented to prevent in
Ethiopia are targeted IRS of houses and distribution of LLINs. IRS is targeted to area where
malaria burden is high and highland fringe with epidemic risk. The LLINs policy is to achieve
and maintain universal coverage of population residing in malaria risk area through mass
campaigns and continuous distribution to achieve and maintain LLINs use level above 80% by
all age groups through SBCC activities (PMI, 2017). Indoor residual spraying (IRS), the use of
22
chemical insecticides on the walls and roof of houses in order to kill and repel mosquitoes has
been proven to be an effective way to reduce malaria transmission, especially in areas with low
and variable seasonal transmission (Mabaso et al, 2004).Chemical spray of houses is done just
before the transmission season to prevent epidemics and check seasonal peaks. DDT is used for
indoor spraying of houses and organophosphates use is limited to areas where DDT resistant
vectors are detected. As the trend of malaria changes over time, there should be a strong
monitoring system for the effectiveness of the insecticides used (MOH, 2002).The NMSP 2014–
2020 aims for universal access to prompt malaria diagnosis and highly effective treatment
services for the entire Ethiopian population. The NMSP strategic objective for malaria diagnosis
specifies that by 2017, 100% of suspected malaria cases are diagnosed using a RDT or
microscopy within 24 hours of fever onset. The NMSP aims to train all HEWs and laboratory
professionals in malaria laboratory diagnosis and provide all health posts with RDTs and health
centers and hospitals with microscopy and other malaria laboratory commodities. The NMSP
states that Artemisinin combine therapies (ACTs) should be available at all public health
treatment for P. vivax cases (PMI, 2016).As stated by Aschalew and Tadesse (2016),
Environmental management also the most popular malaria preventive method in Ethiopia.
Communities are destroying mosquito breeding sites, clearing stagnant water, covering spring
water, eradicating dirt from the compound. The larval stage of mosquito requires stagnant water
to develop. Filling ponds and draining marshes close to human habitation reduces the number of
adult mosquitoes able to transmit the disease (MOH, 2002).Community education regarding
malaria and the use of ITNs and its supply progressed as one major control strategy of malaria in
23
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study was conducted in Soro Woreda, Hadiya Zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities,
and Peoples' Regional State (SNNPR). Soro Woreda is one of thirteen (13) Woreda and four (4)
Soro Woreda is boarded on the North of Gombora woreda, South of Duna woreda, west south of
Mirab Soro woreda, East of Lemo woreda and west of Oromia region. The two town
administration. It is far from 264km from Addis Ababa. Also, it far 200 km far from Hawassa
City the regional capital, of the SNNPR and 32km far from Hosanna zonal town of Hadiya zone.
The total area of the square kilometer is 706 square kilometers. Mean annual temperature in
degree centigrade 17.6-27.5 and the rainfall is 1001ml-1400ml. Based on the Census conducted
by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia, (2007) it has a total population of 233,015, of
which 115,825 are men and 117,190 are women. This specific research work focus on Soro
The homeland of Soro Woreda people is one of the most densely populated areas in Hadiya
Zone. The majority of peoples are farmers. Enset plant constitutes the base of their subsistence
economy. The stable food in many parts of the Hadiya including Soro woreda is „Wesasa” or
Bread of Ensete plant. They also cultivate many crops such as barely, wheat, maize, teff,
sorghum, peas, beans and vegetables like cabbage, and fruit like avocado, mango, and the like.
They also rear animals, such as cows, horses, sheep, and goats. The rearing cattle‟s in the study
24
area is the cultural outcome of the Soro people which is known as xiibeen woo‟o ganima (rearing
cattle more than one hundred cattle‟s). This is the unique cultures of Soro people in Hadiya
Zone. The Hadiya people are famous in production of wheat Ethiopia (some people called it the
smallest Canada).Topographically the Soro Woreda lies within an elevation range of 1500 to
2850 meters above sea level. The slope in general declines East to West with most drainage
being direct to the Gibe River. The Woreda has three agro-ecological zones Degas (23.7%)
Weynadega (64.7%) and Kola (11.6%). (Soro woreda Finance and Economic Development
office, 2019 reports).According to the district health office report, malaria is one of the leading
public health problems in Soro district. This is due to the favorable climatic conditions for
25
Figure 1: Location map of the Soro district (source: Soro woreda Administration)
26
3.2. Study design
An institutional based cross-sectional study was carried out from October 2019-January 2020, on
study data was collected to identify past seven-year (2013-2019) malaria trend in Soro district.
Calculation of sample size was estimated using Daniel‟s formula N =z2 p (1-p)/d2 (Daniel, 2004).
Where p = 50%, since there is no previous reported malaria prevalence study in the area, d =
margin of error equals to 5% and z =standard score corresponds to 1.96, with a 95% confidence
interval. Therefore, sample size was 384. To compensate for non-response and incompleteness,
additional 5% was added. Then the total sample size was 403 participants.
Where:-
Z= a standardized normal deviate value that correspond to a level of statistical significance equal
to 1.96
(0.05)2
The study populations were patients who were visit Gimbichu primary hospital in the period
27
3.5. Methods of data collection
A seven years (2013–2019) retrospective data and institutional based cross-sectional study data
on malaria suspected patients at Gimbichu primary hospital on malaria prevalence was collected
from October, 2019 to January, 2020. The data was collected from both primary and secondary
sources.
A structured and pre-tested questionnaire was used to gather information on their socio-
demographic/economic status, included sex, age, marital status, family size, income level of the
household, educational status, pregnancy and occupation of the house holder, the presence of
breeding site nearby their home, main material of room's roof and wall, presence of opening on
the wall, anti-malarial spraying in the past 12 months, possession and use of LLINs.
Individual participants, totally 403, who came to Gimbichu primary hospital for all health
service, were malaria suspected patients. Two laboratory technicians were recruited and provided
with three days of training on the study objectives and protocol as well as recording formats.
Finger prick blood (a small blood volume) was collected from malaria suspected patients. Two
bloods slides each composed of thick and thin blood films were taken from each study
protocol and standards (WHO, 2009). Slides were labeled and air-dried horizontally in a slide
and thin blood films were fixed with methanol after drying and both thick and thin slides were
stained with 3%Giamsa for 30 minutes. Blood slides were read and cross-checked by senior
laboratory technologists at the laboratory unit as either positive or negative for blood parasites,
p.falciparum positive, p.vivax positive or mixed infection with both p.falciparum and p.vivax.
Then, parasite positivity was determined from thick smear and species identification was carried
28
out from thin smear slide preparations. Microscopic examination was done at 100x magnification
or oil immersion.
A seven-year retrospective study data was collected from secondary source by using registered
book of patient information in the hospital, reports of Soro district health office, published and
unpublished documents that use to gather information by using prepared data recording format.
First, the data was checked and organized in to different sequences before enter Microsoft Office
Excel. Then data were coded and entered into Microsoft Office Excel, cleaned and exported to
statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 21 for analysis. Descriptive statistics like
the frequencies and percentages were employed. Cross-tabulations were plotted before logistic
regressions analyses were performed. Logistic regression analyses were employed to examine
covariates with malaria infection. The association between dependent variables (positivity and
negativity of malaria infection) and independent variables like socio-demographic variables and
others risk factors variables were measured and tested odd ratio with a 95%CI. Statistical
significance was defined at P-values less than 0.05 (P<0.05). Then, the result of the finding was
The questionnaire was first prepared in English and translates in to Amharic and retranslates to
English was performed by the independent individuals to check for consistency of the meanings
of the questions. Data collectors were trained properly. A pre-test of appropriateness of the
questionnaire was done before the actual data collection. During the data collection, constant
monitoring and supervision was carried out and during data collection in the hospital and at the
29
end of each day, the data were reviewed and checked for errors, completeness, accuracy and
consistency before entry into Microsoft Office Excel and corrective measures were taken.
Supporting letter was obtained from Department of Biology College of Natural and
computational sciences in Hawassa University and also supporting letter was obtained from Soro
Woreda health office and Gimbichu primary hospital to undertake the study. The permission was
obtained from patients prior to data collection, if the patient‟s age will less than 18 years; an
30
4. RESULTS
respondents were participated in this study, of which 215(53.3%) were males and 188(46.7%)
were females. Eighty (19.9%) participants were at age below 5 years, 101(25.1%) were between
age of 5-20 years, 170(42.2%) were between age of 21-45 years; and 52(12.9%) were at age
above 45 years. One hundred thirty nine (34.5%) participants of this study unmarried,
253(62.8%) were married, 4(1%) were divorced; and 7(1.7%) were his/her wife/ husband died.
Most of the respondents were live in the rural. One hundred twenty four (30.8%) respondents
were uneducated, 112(27.8%) were able only to read and write, 54(13.4%) had primary school,
92(22.8%) had secondary school and 21(5.2%) had higher education. Eighteen (9.6%) were self
As indicated in table 1 the monthly income of the majority of the respondents of the HH
275(68.2%) was <1000 ETB per month income and 128(31.8%) was greater than 1000 ETB
monthly income. Most of the respondents HH, 263(65.3%) were farmers, 93(23.1%) were self-
employed, 27(6.7%) were private sector and 20(5%) were public servants. Sixty six (16.4%)
respondents HH of had family size less than 4; and 337(83.6%) had family size more than four
(Table1).
31
Table 1: Socio –demographic characteristics of respondents in Soro district, Southern Ethiopia
32
4.2 Risk factors characteristics of study participants in Soro district, southern Ethiopia
The risk factors characteristics of these study participants summarized in table 2. From total
Respondents 232(57.6%) were utilized LLINs and 171(42.4%) had not and not utilized the
LLINs, and 135(33.5%) respondents had only one bed net, 97(24.1%) had two bed nets and
171(42.4%) had not any kind of LLINs. Also most of the respondents were use LLINs as
protective methods from malaria infection and the rest of respondents were use environment
sanitation and IRS chemicals in their houses, while 160(39.7%) respondents were sprayed IRS
chemicals past 12 months in their houses and 243(60.3%) were not sprayed chemicals past 12
months in their houses. One hundred thirty four (33.3%) respondents HH near the house had the
mosquito breeding site and 269(66.7%) had not mosquito breeding site near the their houses
while the housing condition of most respondents not good like 140(34.7%) respondents houses
had opening on wall of houses and 263(65.3%) had not opening in wall of their houses and the
majority of respondents houses roof made by thatch and wall made by sticks and mud (Table 2).
33
Table 2: Risk factors characteristics of study participants in Soro district, southern Ethiopia
NO 269 66.7
House wall opening
YES 140 34.7
NO 263 65.3
House wall type
stone wall 12 3.0
Sticks and mud 391 97.0
House roof type
corrugated iron sheet 119 29.5
284 70.5
Thatch
34
4.3. Prevalence of malaria in the Soro district, Southern Ethiopia (October to January)
During the study period a total of 403 malaria-suspected patients were taken blood samples and
examined for malaria cases of this overall prevalence was 17.87% (72 patients were positive for
62(15.38%) were positive for p.vivax cases, 6(1.49%) positive for p.falciparum cases and
4(0.99%) were positive for mixed infection (p.falciparum and p.vivax) cases. From total
prevalence cases 39(55.7%) were males positive for malaria and 33(44.3%) females. In this
study area plasmodium vivax was predominant species of plasmodium parasite. The relative
plasmodium species proportions of positive cases were 86.11% p. vivax, 8.33% p.falciparum,
20.00%
18.00%
17.87%
16.00%
14.00% 15.38%
12.00%
10.00%
8.00%
6.00%
4.00%
2.00%
0.00% 1.49%
0.99%
Total slide positive p.f p.v mixed infection
35
4.4 logistic regression analysis of risk factors which related with prevalence of malaria
There are varieties of risk factors related with prevalence of malaria infection. Table 3 showed
the result from logistic regression analysis of risk factors that related with prevalence of malaria
infection. However, sex and age did not show statistically significant association with malaria
possession and use of LLINs, types of preventive methods, mosquito breeding site, house wall
opening, house wall type, and house roof type were statistically significant related with the risk
of malaria infection(p<0.05). Urban residents were found to be 80% protective from getting
malaria infection than living rural(OR=0.197, 95% CI; 0.077-0.504, p<0.001), respondents HHs
having less income were found to be 6 times higher risk for getting malaria infection than more
were found to be 89% less likely to be malaria infected than those who had no utilize LLINs
malaria infection were found to be more protective than using other protective methods
of respondents 30 times higher risk factor for malaria infection than absence of mosquito
of house wall opening on their house was 9 times more likely to be risk than absence of house
83% protective from getting malaria infection than those their house made by thatch
(OR=0.175,95%CI;0.074-0.417,p<-0.001)(Table 3).
36
Table 3: Logistic regression analysis of the risk factors related the with prevalence of malaria
Positive Negative
Sex
Male 215 39(18.14) 176(81.86) 1.041 0.624-1.736 0.878
Female 188 33(17.55) 155(82.44) 1.00
Age
<5 80 26(32.5) 54(67.5) 2.022 0.879-4.653 0.098
5-20 101 15(14.85) 86(85.15) 0.733 0.304-1.768 0.489
21-45 170 21(12.35) 149(87.65) 0.592 0.259-1.354 0.214
>45 52 10(19.23) 42(80.77) . 1.00 .
Residence
Urban 96 5(5.21) 91(94.79) 0.197 0.077-0.504 0.001
Rural 307 67(21.82) 240(78.18) 1.00
Pregnancy
Present 18 7(38.89) 11(61.11) 2.872 1.047-7.878 0.040
Absent 170 26(15.29) 144(84.71) 1.00
Income level of HH
<1000 275 66(24) 209(76) 6.421 2.703-15.251 <0.001
>1000 128 6(4.69) 122(95.31) 1.00
Posses &Uses LLINs
YES 232 13(5.60) 219(94.4) 0.113 0.059-0.214 <0.001
NO 171 59(34.50) 112(65.5) . 1.00 .
Number of LLINs
One 135 13(9.37) 211(90.37) 0.200 0.104-0.385 0.001
Two 97 0(0) 97(100) 0.011 0.011-8.327
No any LLINs 171 59(34.71) 112(65.29) 1.00
Preventive method
Use of LLINs 232 21(9.05) 211(90.95) 0.125 0.061-0.255 <0.001
Use of IRS 160 50(31.25) 110(68.75) 0.635 0.337-1.195 0.159
Env/tal sanitation 11 5(45.45) 6(54.54) 1.00 .
Mosquito Breeding
Site
YES 134 64(47.76) 70(52.24) 29.829 13.661,65.129 <0.001
NO 269 8(2.97) 261(97.03) 1.00
House wall opening
YES 140 55(39.28) 85(60.72) 9.363 5.153,17.013 0.001
NO 263 17(6.46) 246(93.54) 1.00
House Roof Type
Corrugated iron sheet 119 6(5.04) 113(94.96) 0.175 0.074-0.417 <0.001
Thatch 284 66(23.24) 218(76.76) 1.00
37
4.5. Trends of malaria in Soro district, between 2013-2019
According to Gimbichu primary hospital registered book of patient information and Soro district
health office malaria cases annually report, from 2013-2019 a total of 65,221 malaria suspected
patients gave blood films for malaria rapid diagnosis. From those blood films 29,663(45.5%)
were positive for malaria and 35,558(54.5%) were negative for malaria cases; and from these
(40.6%) and mixed infection (p.falciparum and p.vivax) cases accounts 1201 (4.1%) of malaria
prevalence throughout the seven years of period. In 2013, highest number of malaria-suspected
patients (N=14,461) were rapid diagnosis tests takes place and 10,779(74%) of them were
microscopically confirmed cases or positive cases for malaria were recorded. On the other hand
the least number of cases (N= 12,520) in 2017 were rapid diagnosis tests takes place and N=
1298(10.4%) and (N=3142) in 2019 were rapid diagnosis tests takes place 414(13.2%) of them
were microscopically confirmed cases for malaria were recorded. Generally, malaria cases in
study area showed decline manner from 2013 to 2019 except in 2016(figure 3).
38
16000
14000
12000
4000
2000
0
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Figure 3: Malaria prevalence from total suspected patients in Soro district (2013-219).
Malaria cases in this study by malaria plasmodium species showed from 2013 to 2019 about
55.3%, 40.6%and 4.1% were due to p-falciparum, p-vivax and mixed infection respectively.
From 2013 to 2019 malaria prevalence cases by plasmodium species showed fluctuating trend
and a decreases manner. The prevalence of malaria plasmodium species trends were 58% in
2013, 54% in 2014, 42% in 2015,70.1% in 2016,42.5% in 2017 , 32% in 2018, 20% in 2019
were p-falciparum cases; and 39% in 2013, 44% in 2014, 57% in 2015, 16.9% in 2016, 56.7%
in 2017, 67.6% in 2018, 79.9% in 2019 were p-vivax cases and 3.4% in 2013,1.5% in 2014, 1%
in 2015, 12.9% in 2016, 0.8% in 2017, 1.4% in 2018, 1.7% in 2019 were mixed infection
(p.falciparum and p.vivax) cases recorded. From 2013 to 2019, the prevalence of p.falciparum
highest cases record in 2016 (70.1%) but, in another years showed a decreases and prevalence of
p.vivax showed fluctuating trend. The prevalence of mixed infection (p.falciparum and p-vivax)
showed a fluctuating trend and highest cases recorded in 2016 (12.9%) (Figure4).
39
12000
P.vivax
6000
Mixed
4000
2000
0
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Figure 4: Trends of malaria cases by plasmodium species distribution between 2013- 2019
40
5. Discussion
Malaria is a major public health problem in Ethiopia including study area. Over the past years,
the disease has been consistently reported as the leading cause of outpatient visits,
hospitalization, and death in health facilities across the country (Wakgari et al., 2003).In this
study from the hospital reported data, the highest proportion of annual malaria cases (74.5%) was
in (2013) and the lowest malaria cases (10.4%) in (2017), and showing a fluctuating trend in past
seven years (2013-2019). While malaria infection prevalence at similar seasons of the year
October to January from 2013-2019 is compared with current institutional based cross-sectional
study of October to January of 2020, the highest prevalence (74.5%) was recorded in 2013, the
next highest (58.7%) being recorded in 2016.The lowest prevalence (10.4%) was recorded in
2017 of the year. In the current institutional based cross-sectional survey the overall prevalence
of malaria infection was (17.87%) which was lower than previous years of overall prevalence of
malaria infection (45.5%) of (2013-2019) of the October to January. This is due to the
governmental policy which focused on diseases prevention by raising public awareness through
health extension workers and health development army volunteers providing community-based
awareness at the household level (MOH,2010).Most of the local communities were aware of the
The current institutional based cross-sectional survey study of the overall prevalence similar to
al., 2015),Kola Diba district,(Abebe et al., 2012); and higher than study made from Wolkite
Health center(Degifie Bereka,2017)which was 7.7% and Arba Minch Hospital (Belayneh,2014)
which was 7%.Additionally this study overall prevalence was lower than another study report
41
Oromia region (Firew et al., 2017) 82.4%,20.07%and 25% respectively. This difference might be
due to altitude variation, climatic differences that may contribute to great role for breeding of
The predominant plasmodium species detected in study area was p.vivax accounts (86.1%),
1.49% p. falciparum, and 0.99% mixed infection from overall prevalence of malaria
infection(17.87%). This study result contradict with the general national wide plasmodium
species composition paradigm in Ethiopia where p.falciparum makes up about 60% and the rest
of p.vivax 40% (FMOH, 2004); and another study reported from Meteme Hospital (Getachew et
Hospital (Belayneh,2014), where p.falciparum were predominant species. This might be due to
topographic difference, a higher prevalence of p.falciparum occurs in the lowlands. This study
result similarity with study reported from Wolkite Health center (Degifie Bereka, 2017), Dilla
district (Eshetu et al., 2015), Hallaba (Girma, 2014) and East shewa zone of Oromia region
(Firew et al., 2017) where p.vivax is the predominant of plasmodium species. This might be due
Although, the result of this study showed that prevalence of malaria infection was higher in
males than females from the malaria slide positive cases (18.14%) were males and (17.33%)
were females, but it was not showed statistically significant relationship between prevalence of
malaria infection and sex or age, this study is similar to previous study (Graves et al.,2009).This
42
is an agreement with the finding reported from Ethiopia ( Ayele et al., 2013) Kola Diba (Abebe
et al., 2012),Meteme hosipital (Getachew et al.,2013) but differs from the finding reported from
malaria infection in this study was (32.5%) detected in the age group <5 and followed by
(19.23%) in age >45.This might be due to children under five age have lower immunity to
resistance of malaria infection and exposure to the malaria and any kind of disease.
In this study the positivity of malaria infection had statistically significant association with
residence. This study result line with the study reported from Dilla (Eshetu et al., 2015) which
the higher prevalence of malaria infection rate in the rural areas than urban areas. This might
showed rural areas have low awareness, poor housing condition, low economic level and less
effective malaria control measure were applied than urban areas. In this study pregnancy of
women had statistically significant association with malaria infection. This is due to lower
immunity to resistance to malaria positivity of malaria infection. Also low income level of HH
had statistically significant association with malaria infection positivity. The low income level
was higher risk for malaria infection than higher income level, because of less access to
preventive measures and health care, poor housing condition that increase entry of mosquito and
high susceptibility due to poor health and balanced diet (Dejene, 2014). This study finding
similarity with other workers who reported that family employment status was associated with
malaria prevalence among the under-five and associated factors in Muleba district-kagera region
(Mushashu, 2012), and suggests that those people are characterized by low access to health care
facilities and lack of financial to buy for vector control technologies such as INTs, IRS and Anti
43
In the case of possession and utilization of LLINs had statistically significant association with
malaria positivity to control malaria vector and to reducing malaria transmission. The
respondents of HHs ownership of LLINs decrease the risk of malaria infection than those who
did not ownership and not use of LLINs during bed time. This result is similarity to another
study reported from Hadiya zone (Delil, 2014),Dembia district (Mesafint et al., 2017),and Jiga
area, Northwest Ethiopia (Seble,2014). To contrary, some studies conducted in Africa countries
revealed that the utilize of LLINs, did not show a significance difference in malaria mortality and
morbidity study reported from Jimma town (Abebe et al.,2011). Also the number of LLINs, the
condition of LLINs and use last night LLINs of respondents HH had statistically significant
association with positivity of malaria infection. However, the respondents of HH had good
LLINs decrease the probability to expose risk of malaria infection than those who had not good
bed nets, use last night of LLINs decrease risk of malaria infection than those who did not use
previous night and the number LLINs/HH was related with decrease prevalence of malaria
among respondents. This study finding similar to other study reported southern Ethiopia (Loha,
2013) who reported that the prevalence of malaria was lower in those districts having more than
one LLINs/HH.
In this study the using indoor residual spraying (IRS) past 12 months was not statistically
significant association with positivity of malaria infection but, IRS remains one of the key
strategies of the NMCP though primarily used for epidemic prevention and response. IRS with
insecticide has been shown to be highly effective as a malaria control and measure in reducing
the incidence of malaria infection and death in a number of situations (Sintasath et al., 2005).
This study agree with the finding reported from Jiga area, Northwest Ethiopia (Seble, 2014), but
44
this study disagree with the reported from study Muleba district-kagera region Tanzania
(Mushashu, 2012).
The malaria infection positivity was associated with mosquito breeding site around the house of
respondent statistically significant. The highest prevalence rate was found among responding
were living around their house to the mosquito breeding site than those absence of mosquito
breeding site in their house .This study agree with other study reported from Jiga area, Northwest
In this study another risk factors like housing condition of respondent HH such as house wall
opening, house wall type and house roof type were contribute for high rate of malaria infection
prevalence. From this risk factors house wall opening and house roof type were statistically
significant association with rate of prevalence of malaria infection. This study agrees with other
studies (Straton et al., 2008; Yamamoto et al., 2010; and Gebrayesus et al., 2000).
45
6. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
6.1 Conclusion
Based on the finding obtained from this study, the following conclusions can be drawn
The finding of this study in a seven-year retrospective study showed that high prevalence
In this study finding a seven-year retrospective study from (2013-2019) showed that
fluctuating trend and declined manner, and the overall prevalence of malaria infection
were 45.5%.
study was 17.87%; plasmodium vivax predominant followed plasmodium falciparum and
mixed infection.
The finding revealed that residence being rural, lower monthly income, pregnancy of
women, none utilization of bed nets with insecticide, the presence of mosquito breeding
site nearer to the house, housing condition of residence such as house wall opening and
house roof type were increases prevalence of malaria infection and transmission of
parasite.
6.2 RECOMMENDATION
Malaria is the major health problems and developmental challenges facing the world. To reduce
this problem the following recommendations based on this finding would be drawn;
Health extension workers should be enhance the awareness of residence to use the
malaria vector control measures such as insecticide bed nets (ITNs) and IRS utilizing
effectively.
46
Government and non-government organization should be distribute key vector control
facilities like insecticide treated bed nets (ITNs) and Indoor residual spraying (IRS) for
Enhanced and sustained health care education about malaria infection, its associated risk
Health extension workers should be focus on mosquito breeding site near to homes and
stagnant water which favorable for Anopheles mosquito and should be clean by
community participation.
Residence should be improve the housing conditions like house wall opening, house roof
ultimate aim of publicizing the awareness of malaria infection, its causes, and prevention
47
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8. APPENDIX
Dear respondent, this form is prepared to get your informed consent thereby to take part and
provide data to the interview prepared for educational study for post graduate program at
Hawassa University, Department of Biology. The aim of this interview is to obtain data about
prevalence malaria infection. Therefore, your genuine responses to the entire interview are
extremely valuable.
So, when you are taking part in this interview session, you will be asked questions related to
malaria and examine you or your family with malaria symptoms by taking blood smear to
The information you provide will be kept confidential and you won‟t be identified. You are also
free to withdraw from the interview any time without any penalty. If you have any enquiry about
the study and procedures of providing data (answering questions), you are at liberty to ask the
56
5. Residence, A. Urban B. Rural
A. Illiterate B. only read and writes C. primary school D. 2o School. E. Higher education
14. If yes, which preventive measure do you use to get protected from malaria?
management
15. Is there any mosquito breeding site available nearby your home?
A. Yes B. No
16.If yes, what type of breeding site available nearby your home?
57
17. Do you (your family) have and use insecticide treated bed net? A. yes B.No
18. Was the house sprayed with insecticide in the last 12 months? A. Yes B. No
20. What is the Main material of the Room‟s Wall? A. stone wall D. sticks and mud
21. What type of you/your HH house roof? A. Corrugated iron sheet B. thatch
58
Appendix 3: Amharic consent/assent form
የሰበት ዓመት ዳሰሰ ጥናት ሇማውቅ እያጠናሁ እገኛሇሁ ።የዚህ ጥናት አሇማ በዚህ አከበቢ
ያሇውን ሊማውቅ ታስቦ ነው። ይህም በሽታውን በወረዳው ውስጥ እያደረሰ ያሇውን ስርጭት
እናመሰግናሊን።
መሰባሰቢያ ቅጽ።
1, ፆታ ሀ. ወንድ ሇ. ሴት
59
7, የቤተሰብዎ የሥራ ሁኔታ ሀ, መንግስትሰረተኛ ሇ, የግሌተደደር ሐ ,በግሌሴክቴር መ
,አርሶአደር
አከበቢውንመቆጠጣር
የማይንቀሰቀስወሃ መ.ላሇ_______
17. ሇእርሰዎ ወይም ሇቤተሰበዎ አጎበር አሇው እና በኬምከሌ የተነከረ አጎባር ትጠቃመሊችሁ
ሀ. አዎ ሇ. አይደሇም
60
20.የቤትዎ ግድግደ በዋናነት የተሰረው ከምንድ ነው? ሀ, ከድንገይናስምንቶ
ሇ.ከእንጨትናከጭቃ
Respondent Card № Sex Age Malaria test result Plasmodium species Remark
No
positive negative p.f p.v mixed
61