Literacy and Diarrhoea Predict Malaria in Kenyan Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Rodney L Coldren, Trish Prosser, Fredrick Ogolla, Victor O Ofula, Nicholas Adungo
Primary Institution: United States Army Medical Research Unit – Kenya
Hypothesis
Are literacy and recent history of diarrhoea predictive of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia in Kenyan adults?
Conclusion
District of residence, literacy, and recent diarrhoeal illness are significant predictors of malaria parasitaemia among Kenyan adults.
Supporting Evidence
- 1,141 subjects were recruited from three districts in Kenya.
- Parasitaemia rates were significantly different across districts.
- Literate individuals had higher rates of parasitaemia compared to illiterate individuals.
- Recent diarrhoeal illness was associated with increased parasitaemia rates.
Takeaway
This study found that being able to read and having diarrhoea recently can increase the chances of having malaria in Kenyan adults.
Methodology
A population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted using a two-stage cluster sampling technique to enroll consenting adults from selected villages.
Potential Biases
Potential bias from self-reported health histories and antimalarial usage.
Limitations
Self-reported data may introduce bias, and the study's design limits the ability to generalize findings beyond the selected districts.
Participant Demographics
The study included 1141 adults, with 64.1% female and 35.9% male participants.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.023 for literacy, p = 0.067 for diarrhoeal illness
Confidence Interval
95% CI for adjusted relative odds reported in the results
Statistical Significance
p < 0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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