ISSN 2756-3391
African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2343-6549 Vol. 6 (5), pp. 001-007, May, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Assessment of malaria as public health problem in Finchaa Sugar Factory based on clinical records and parasitological surveys, western Ethiopia
Bayissa Chala1* and Beyene Petros2
1Department of Biology, School of Natural Sciences, Adama Science and Technology University, P.O. Box 1888, Adama, Ethiopia.
2Department of Biology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Accepted 17 January, 2019
Abstract
An assessment of the malaria prevalence and some of its risk factors was conducted in the Finchaa Sugar Factory estate, western Ethiopia, based on analysis of retrospective data from the health center, a cross-sectional survey using blood slides and a questionnaire. Over the period 2001 to 2005 average prevalence among suspected patients at the health centre was 30.9%. Examination of thick and thin blood films from a random sample of 700 individuals from 7 villages revealed infection rates of 1.4% in November 2005 and 3.9% in April/May 2006. Out of 37 malaria positives, more than half was due to Plasmodium vivax and the rest was Plasmodium falciparum. The study detected focal variation of prevalence associated with location of the village, presence of pools and socio-economic circumstances. Awareness of malaria transmission and control was generally low. Malaria is a year-round public health problem in Finchaa, possibly perpetuated by permanent water bodies, high influx of migrant laborers and reduced effectiveness of current control measures.
Key words: Malaria, irrigation, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, public health, Ethiopia.