Heterogeneous decrease in malaria prevalence in children over a six-year period in south-western Uganda
2011

Decrease in Malaria Prevalence in Children in Uganda

Sample size: 2320 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): De Beaudrap Pierre, Nabasumba Carolyn, Grandesso Francesco, Turyakira Eleanor, Schramm Birgit, Boum Yap II, Etard Jean-François

Primary Institution: Epicentre Mbarara Research Base, Mbarara, Uganda

Hypothesis

What is the change in malaria prevalence among children under five in Uganda from 2004 to 2010?

Conclusion

The study found a significant drop in malaria prevalence among children under five, but rates remain high in rural areas.

Supporting Evidence

  • Malaria prevalence decreased from 43% in 2004 to 23% in rural areas and 3% in urban areas by 2010.
  • Household bed net ownership increased from 22.9% in 2004 to 64.7% in urban areas and 44.5% in rural areas by 2010.
  • The risk of malaria infection was associated with child age and household wealth.

Takeaway

The number of kids getting malaria in Uganda has gone down a lot, but there are still many kids in the countryside who are getting sick.

Methodology

Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted in 2004 and 2010 to measure malaria prevalence using rapid diagnostic tests and blood smears.

Potential Biases

Potential biases may arise from differences in data collection methods between the two surveys.

Limitations

The study's cross-sectional design limits the ability to account for short-term variations in malaria prevalence.

Participant Demographics

Children under five years old from urban and rural areas in south-western Uganda.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.001

Confidence Interval

95% CI: 34-52 for 2004, 95% CI: 17-30 for rural areas in 2010, 95% CI: 2-5 for urban areas in 2010

Statistical Significance

p<0.001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1475-2875-10-132

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