Malaria is an endemic disease in Zambia and it’s a major public health problem in Africa, especially in the Tropics and developing countries. Malaria continues to place an unacceptable burden on health and economic development in over 100 countries across the world, with malaria mortality exceeding one million annually, primarily in children under five(3).
Efforts have been put in place over the years to reduce the high incidence and mortality rate due to Malaria. From pharmaceutical options reviews to environmental actions, governments and their stakeholders through the Ministries of Health in various countries affected by the endemic, have worked to initiate policies for a massive and effective disease control.
According to WHO, about 109 countries in the world are considered endemic for malaria,45 countries within the African continent.3,3 billion people were estimated to be at risk of malaria in 2006.Of this total,2,1 billion were at low risk(<1 reported case per 1000 population),97% were living in regions other than Africa. The 1, 2 billion at high risk (≥1 case per 1000 population) were living mostly in the WHO African (49%) and South-East Asia regions (37%)(18).In the same report, there was an estimated death of 881,000(610,000-1,212,000) due to malaria in 2006, of which 91%were in Africa and 85% were of children under 5 years of age. (Table 1).
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Situation analysis
1.2. Objectives
1.3. Material and methods
2. EPIDEMIOLOGIC DETERMINANTS
2.1. Definition
2.2. Epidemiologic triad
2.3. Clinical manifestations
2.4. Treatment
3. MALARIA INCIDENCE
4. MALARIA AND ANAEMIA
4.1. Malaria and anaemia
4.2 Relative risk, Odds ratio, p-value
4.2.3 Control of confounding
5. PREVENTION
6. CONCLUSION
Research Objectives and Focus Areas
This study aims to examine the magnitude of malaria infection and its association with anaemia within a remote hospital setting in Zambia, applying epidemiological principles to analyze patient data and evaluate the effectiveness of local control measures.
- Measurement of epidemiological determinants of malaria-associated anaemia.
- Application of case-control study methodology to quantify anaemia risk.
- Statistical analysis of hospital data regarding malaria incidence.
- Evaluation of prevention and control strategies in malaria-endemic regions.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1. Situation analysis
Malaria is an endemic disease in Zambia and it’s a major public health problem in Africa, especially in the Tropics and developing countries. Malaria continues to place an unacceptable burden on health and economic development in over 100 countries across the world, with malaria mortality exceeding one million annually, primarily in children under five(3).
Efforts have been put in place over the years to reduce the high incidence and mortality rate due to Malaria. From pharmaceutical options reviews to environmental actions, governments and their stakeholders through the Ministries of Health in various countries affected by the endemic, have worked to initiate policies for a massive and effective disease control.
According to WHO, about 109 countries in the world are considered endemic for malaria,45 countries within the African continent.3,3 billion people were estimated to be at risk of malaria in 2006.Of this total,2,1 billion were at low risk(<1 reported case per 1000 population),97% were living in regions other than Africa. The 1, 2 billion at high risk (≥1 case per 1000 population) were living mostly in the WHO African (49%) and South-East Asia regions (37%)(18).In the same report, there was an estimated death of 881,000(610,000-1,212,000) due to malaria in 2006, of which 91%were in Africa and 85% were of children under 5 years of age. (Table 1).
In Zambia, during a national malaria indicator survey, it was found that 22% of children below 5 years old of age had malaria. The highest malaria parasitemia were among children aged between 24-47 months. The distribution was higher in rural areas (28, 9%) than in urban areas (4, 9%). (9)
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: Provides an overview of the global and local burden of malaria in Zambia and outlines the study's objectives and methodological approach.
2. EPIDEMIOLOGIC DETERMINANTS: Defines malaria, explains the epidemiologic triad of host, agent, and environment, and discusses clinical manifestations and treatment protocols.
3. MALARIA INCIDENCE: Presents an analysis of malaria incidence rates at Sichili Mission Hospital based on age groups and patient demographics during 2009.
4. MALARIA AND ANAEMIA: Investigates the statistical correlation between malaria and anaemia, including the calculation of odds ratios, relative risk, and the control of confounding variables.
5. PREVENTION: Discusses various malaria prevention strategies, including bed nets and indoor residual spraying, and highlights challenges in their implementation.
6. CONCLUSION: Summarizes the findings regarding the high association between malaria and anaemia in children and reaffirms the importance of effective control programs.
Keywords
Malaria, Anaemia, Epidemiology, Zambia, Case-control study, Plasmodium, Public Health, Incidence Rate, Odds Ratio, Relative Risk, Confounding, Prevention, Bed nets, Indoor Residual Spraying, Sichili Mission Hospital.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the epidemiological analysis of malaria and its association with anaemia, specifically conducting a retrospective case-control study at a remote hospital in Zambia.
What are the central themes of the work?
Key themes include the epidemiological determinants of malaria, the statistical measurement of disease risks, the impact of malaria on children under five, and the efficacy of public health prevention strategies.
What is the primary research objective?
The main objective is to measure the magnitude of malaria infection in relation to anaemia and to analyze the effectiveness of existing disease control measures in the study region.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The study employs a retrospective case-control methodology, aggregating data from medical files, laboratory reports, and registries to compare cases (patients with malaria and anaemia) against controls.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body covers the theoretical epidemiological framework, the data collection at Sichili Mission Hospital, the statistical analysis of incidence rates, and the calculation of relative risk and odds ratios.
Which keywords best characterize this study?
The study is best characterized by terms such as malaria, anaemia, epidemiology, case-control study, public health, and disease prevention.
What specific finding does the author note regarding children under five?
The author notes that children under five are a high-risk population, with significant statistical association between malaria infection and the development of anaemia in this age group.
How does the author address the issue of confounding variables?
The author addresses confounding by using restriction (excluding pregnant women) and matching (selecting controls within the same age and sex groups) to ensure that the relationship between malaria and anaemia is not biased.
Why are odds ratios used instead of relative risk?
The author explains that while relative risk is typically determined in cohort studies, an odds ratio is the appropriate statistical measure of association for this retrospective case-control study.
- Arbeit zitieren
- MD,MPH Leonard Kabongo (Autor:in), 2010, Malaria and Anaemia: A Retrospective Case control study in a remote hospital in Zambia, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/171547
