Malaria Risk Factor at the Tabalong Cross-Bor-ders, South Kalimantan, Indonesia

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Background: This study aims to determine risk factors related to ma-laria incidence in Muara Uya and Jaro in Tabalong, South Kalimantan. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on communities. The research was conducted in November 2021. Thin and thick blood films were prepared, stained, and examined microscopically following standard protocol. Data were analysed by Fisher exact using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Software. Results: 59% of the 311 respondents were male. Most of the respond-ents were between the ages of 15 and 30 years (39%). The majority had a non-risky occupation. There were 5 (1.6%) positive malaria cases among 311 people. Plasmodium falciparum was the most common cause of infection (60%), followed by Plasmodiumvivax (20%) and mixed infections (20%). There was a significant relationship between the behaviour of staying in the forest and occupation with malaria incidence. The forest is bounded by malaria-endemic districts in East Kalimantan. According to the questionnaire, the respondent’s knowl-edge was quite good (55-67.5%). Despite the fact that community awareness was quite high, occupational factors contributed significantly to the spread of malaria. Conclusion: We discovered a role for cross-border transmission in the context of individual occupational risks. Optimisation of cross-border monitoring is required to help determine the dynamics of cross-border malaria in order to achieve accelerated malaria control and elimination. These findings imply that the epidemiology of imported malaria should be updated on a regular basis in order to review and refine malaria prevention strategies.