PREVALENCE OF MALARIA AMONG PATEINTS VISITING WOLKITE HEALTH CENTER, WOLKITE, SOUTH-CENTRAL ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Malaria is caused by protozoan parasites that belong to the Genus Plasmodium, which are transmitted to human by the bite of infected female anopheles mosquito. Malaria is usually restricted to tropical and subtropical areas with climatic conditions suitable for the development of the vector and parasite. Ethiopia is one of the malaria endemic countries with an average 77% P. falciparum and 23% P. vivax prevalence during peak malaria transmission time. Objective: To determine the prevalence of malaria among patients visiting Wolkite health center in Wolkite. Method: Retrospective study was conducted to determine the prevalence of malaria by reviewing the malaria Registration laboratory logbook at Wolkite health center from 2016 to 2020. All the socio-demographic data, year, month and malaria data were collected using a predesigned data collection sheet from 2010 to 2012 E.C. Result: According to retrospective data obtained from Wolkite health center from 2010 to 2012 a total of 47,193 patients were send for laboratory diagnosis suspected for malaria, 1644 (53.89%) are male and 1406(46.05) are female from the total positive cases. Prevalence of malaria in age groups shows that 139 (4.5%) are belonged to the age groups less than one (1) year, 626 (20.5%) belonged to the age groups 1-4, 738 (24.2%) belonged to the age groups 5 – 14 and 1547 (50.7%) are belonged to greater than 15. Among the patients who Diagnosed for malaria (between September 2010- August 2012 E.C), 3050(6.46%) are Positive. During all the 3 years, in season one (September to November) has the highest malaria prevalence 1509( 49.47%), the second is season three (march to May)534(17.5%) the third one is season two(December to February)527(17.27%) and the last is season four (Jun to august)480(15.73%) of malaria positive cases are counted .The maximum number of confirmed malaria cases was reported in spring (September, October, and November) and the minimum was reported during summer (Jun ,July, august) seasons(table 3,figure 2). Conclusion: from this study we reviled that malaria prevalence rise in 2012, but from 2010 to 2011 prevalence of malaria was less. Overall the prevalence of malaria were varies by age, residence and season. Therefore, malaria intervention should enhanced with stockholders