Malaria Risk and Access to Treatment in Kilombero Valley, Tanzania
Author Information
Author(s): Hetzel Manuel W, Alba Sandra, Fankhauser Mariette, Mayumana Iddy, Lengeler Christian, Obrist Brigit, Nathan Rose, Makemba Ahmed M, Mshana Christopher, Schulze Alexander, Mshinda Hassan
Primary Institution: Swiss Tropical Institute
Hypothesis
Does seasonal movement to remote fields increase malaria risk and affect treatment-seeking behavior?
Conclusion
Living in the shamba does not appear to result in a higher fever-risk, and high mosquito net usage reflects awareness of malaria.
Supporting Evidence
- Fever incidence rates were lower in the shamba compared to the villages.
- Children aged 1–4 years were more likely to have a fever than adults.
- 98% of people used mosquito nets in the fields.
- 55.8% of fever episodes were treated at a health facility.
- Home-management of fever was less common at 37%.
Takeaway
People who live in the fields during farming season don't get sick more often from malaria, and they use mosquito nets a lot to stay safe.
Methodology
A longitudinal study followed approximately 100 randomly selected farming households over six months, with monthly visits to record activities and fever cases.
Potential Biases
Potential reporting bias due to self-reported treatment-seeking behavior.
Limitations
The study may not fully capture the complexities of malaria transmission due to the limited sample size and specific geographic focus.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 703 individuals, with a significant proportion of children under five years old.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 2.35–8.51
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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