Factors influencing the prevalence of malaria in Uganda: A case study of Kimombasa slum in Bwaise, Kampala District

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify and understand the various factors that contribute to the prevalence of malaria in Uganda The study intended to achieve the following objectives; to determine the influence of environmental factors on the prevalence of malaria in Uganda, to determine the effect of socioeconomic factors on the prevalence of malaria in Uganda and to determine the effect of health system factors on the prevalence of malaria in Uganda. The study used a sample of respondents who were adopted using simple sampling technique. Data was therefore collected using self-administered questionnaire and later analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). The findings show that there is a significant relationship between mosquito breeding sites and prevalence of malaria in Uganda (p=.000<.050, X2 =52.301a). Furthermore the findings show that there is a significant relationship level of education of individual and prevalence of malaria in Uganda (p=.000<.050, X2 =103.327a ). However, findings show that there is a positive significant relationship between use of mosquito nets and malaria prevalence (p=.000<.050, X2 =105.900a) The study recommended that; Further research should carry out qualitative research on Malaria prevalence, mosquito net use and educational level of household at national level. The relationship malaria prevalence, education level and mosquito net use should be studied in larger samples in order to generalize conclusions on the relationship between the two variables in the study. Thus future researchers may focus on that. Further studies could explore additional variables and in addition, future studies could also look at how these variables affect other malaria prevalence among the antenatal mothers and children below the age of five years. This will assist the ministry of health to come up with strong strategies in the fight against malaria.