Impact of National Malaria Control Efforts on Prevalence of Malaria in Amhara Region Oromia Special Zone North-central Ethiopia

Abstract

Malaria is the leading causes of public health problem in Ethiopia. Even though there are sustained control efforts, malaria still remains the major cause of morbidity, mortality and socio-economic problems in Ethiopia. The country set a goal to eliminate the disease in certain localities by 2020. To meet this goal continuous evaluation of malaria-situation nationwide is necessary. This study designed to contribute for such efforts, to assess impact of national malaria control efforts on prevalence of malaria in one of malaria endemic area, Oromia special zone in Amhara regional state of Ethiopia. A retrospective study was conducted on prevalence of malaria and implementation of malaria control effort from 2014-2019 in the study area. From a total of 524,722 clinically suspected malaria cases, about 65,463 (12.5%) were found positive for malaria and 99.8% were outpatients. 51,679 (78.9%) were due to plasmodium falciparum and 13,657 (20.86%) were due to Plasmodium vivax. Malaria status among patients in different age showed that the prevalence was highly significant (ϰ 2 = 124.2, P<0.0001) among population in age group ≥ 15 years (54.14%) than children <5 years (17.38%). Prevalence among pregnant women was 3.65% (n= 503). And also the peak malaria season was irregular and varied in different years. Generally the overall malaria prevalence showed a decreasing pattern. IRS and LLIN were distributed once per year for two years, in 2014 and 2017. Vector control interventional activities such as use of LLIN and IRS at the zone were not satisfactory. The distribution of LLIN was to not fair enough during 2017, as one LLIN per HH is difficult to be used by all the family numbers greater than one. Therefore, control activities should be continued in a strengthened manner in the study area considering both plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax to meet our goal of eliminating malaria in 2030.