| dc.description.abstract | Background
Under-five children remain the most vulnerable group to severe malaria infection; and approximately 60% of all malaria deaths worldwide occur in that age group. In Uganda, malaria despite the malaria indicator survey showing a reduction from 42% in 2009 to 19% in 2015, remains the leading cause of morbidity among children below 5 years. Although some studies have been conducted in some parts of the country, there is only limited information regarding the prevalence and associated factors of malaria among children under-five in Arua district especially Ajia sub-county, an area that has a favourable environment for the breeding of mosquito vectors.
Study objective
To determine the prevalence and determinants of malaria infection among children under-fives in Ajia sub-county, Arua district so as to guide the design of appropriate strategies for mitigating malaria transmission.
Methodology
A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 260 caretakers of children under 5 using semi-structured questionnaire and an observational checklist to gather information on the prevalence as well as sociodemographic, individual, and environmental factors that influence malaria infection among children under-five years. Chi-square (X2) statistics and binary logistic regression were used to assess the association between prevalence and determinants at a 95% confidence interval.
Results
Most of the respondents 81.1% (211/260) had children who had experienced fever in the past 30 days. Out of those, 83.4% (176/211) sought care for their children at the health facility. Of those who sought treatment, 93.7% (165/211) had a rapid diagnostic test performed or blood smear done on their children. Overall, 63.2% of the children under 5 had malaria infection in the last 30 days. About 60.4% (157/260) households had Insecticide-treated bed nets (ITN) and 86.6% of these had their nets hanged. Most of the homes had bushy surrounding 66.5% (173/260) and were located near a swamp/water body source 64.6% (168/260).
There was a significant association between Malaria prevalence in under 5s and spraying the dwelling with insecticide (p=0029), knowledge of malaria signs (p=0.009) and living in homesteads located near swamp/water body (p=0.040). There was also a significant difference in malaria prevalence in children under 5 between bushy homesteads and those not bushy.
Conclusion
Malaria prevalence among under 5 children is high and associated with knowledge and environmental factors around households. Interventions should target households with low awareness levels as well as encourage communities in preparing their surroundings in a manner that discourages the breeding of vectors malaria parasites. | en_US |
