Abstract
BackgroundInformation about malaria risk factors at high altitudes is scanty. Understanding the risk factors that determine the risk of malaria transmission at high altitude villages is important to facilitate implementing sustainable malaria control and prevention programs.MethodsAn unmatched case control study was conducted among patients seeking treatment at health centers in high altitude areas. Either microscopy or rapid diagnostic tests were used to confirm the presence of plasmodium species. A generalized linear model was used to identify the predictors of malaria transmission in high altitude villages.ResultsMales (AOR = 3.11, 95%CI: 2.28, 4.23), and those who traveled away from the home in the previous month (AOR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.56, 2.58) were strongly associated with presence of malaria in high altitude villages. Other significant factors, including agriculture in occupation (AOR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.93), plants used for fencing (AOR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.18, 2.52) and forests near the house (AOR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.15, 2.47), were found predictors for malaria in high altitude villages.ConclusionTravel outside of their home was an important risk of malaria infections acquisition. Targeting males who frequently travel to malarious areas can reduce malaria transmission risks in high altitude areas.
Highlights
Malaria has unstable transmission patterns in high land areas of Ethiopia, and its occurrence is characterized by frequent and often large-scale epidemics due to the low immunity level of highland populations
Most of the malaria infections are due to plasmodium falciparum and plasmodium vivax [1]
Malaria transmission varies in space and time [7] as the country has diverse topography and climate [8], so information about the transmission of malaria risk factors in high altitudes in northwest Ethiopia is limited [9]
Summary
Malaria has unstable transmission patterns in high land areas of Ethiopia, and its occurrence is characterized by frequent and often large-scale epidemics due to the low immunity level of highland populations. In Ethiopia, malaria intervention strategies have been targeted to areas located at less than 2000 m above sea level [10,11], and intervention efforts in highland areas are limited. The exclusion of these areas in unstable transmission zones can limit the success of the overall malaria prevention and control activities. Understanding the factors which determine the risk of malaria transmission can facilitate implementing sustainable malaria control and prevention intervention. Understanding the risk factors that determine the risk of malaria transmission at high altitude villages is important to facilitate implementing sustainable malaria control and prevention programs
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