Causes of malaria among children aged five and below in Bushenyi district: a case study of Katungu ward cell B Ishaka division Ishaka-Bushenyi municipalty, Bushenyi district

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to determine the cause of malaria among children aged 0-5 years in Bushenyi District, a case study of Katungu Ward Cell B, Ishaka Division Ishaka-Bushenyi municipality. The study interviewed a sample of 96 respondents who were strictly parents of those children from Katungu ward. On average, respondents were aged 33 years. Majority of the respondents were females and married. A few of them were cohabiting and none were widowed or divorced. Most of the respondents attended higher level of education. At bivariate analysis, a variance -covariance matrix with correlation coefficient among the variables was used. The matrix indicated that there was a both weak positive and negative relationship between all the variables since the coefficients were below 0.05. A t multivariate analysis, a logistic regression was used among all the six independent variables where the bushy surroundings were significant with a p value of 0.005. The researcher recommends that emphasis on the slashing and clearing of bushes surrounding the homesteads since it is the major cause of malaria among children aged 5 years and below. She further recommends they the emphasis should be put on sensitizing the general public by the government health officials on the custom of clearing bushes around homes.