Identifying Determinants of Submicroscopic Malaria in Malawi, version 1.0
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Date
2022-07-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kamuzu University of Health Sciences
Abstract
Type of Study
This is a cross sectional study that aims at identifying factors associated with submicroscopic malaria infection in three districts in Malawi; Blantyre, Chikwawa and Thyolo districts. Malaria continues to be a burden to the health of people globally with about 229 million cases with a reported 409 000 deaths in 2019 alone. In Africa specifically sub-Saharan Africa malaria also continues to be a big burden with 95 percent of all malaria cases in the world occurring in this region of which resulted into 12 percent increase in deaths in 2020 as compare to 2019. In Malawi malaria is big burden contributing to about 23 percent of all outpatient visits and 5.2 million cases in 2019 alone. Submicroscopic malaria which is malaria infection that is negative on microscopy testing and positive on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test contributes to the human reservoir for the plasmodium parasites that ensures continuous presence of the parasites in the population hence favoring onwards transmission. The human reservoirs are people who are infected but are not sick harboring either microscopic or submicroscopic infection. Because they are not sick these are the populations which are not treated hence making malaria control and elimination difficult.
Problem;
In Malawi there is paucity of data on determinants of submicroscopic malaria which would help with mass drug administration as a strategy in targeting those human reservoirs of plasmodium.
If factors associated with submicroscopic malaria could be studied it would help in targeting the screening and treatment plus in targeting the right group for mass drug administration (MDA) to deal with these cases of these submicroscopic cases in order to reduce the human reservoirs of plasmodium.
This study therefore seeks to identify factors associated with submicroscopic infection in
different transmission settings in Malawi. If we can identify those at risk of submicroscopic malaria infection, we can then better tailor interventions to target them hence reducing the prevalence and helping with malaria control while contributing to malaria elimination in the long run.
Broad objective:
To establish the determinants of submicroscopic malaria across different transmission settings in Malawi.
Specific objectives:
1. To determine prevalence of malaria cases among population from Blantyre city,
Chikwawa and Thyolo districts
2. To estimate the proportion of submicroscopic malaria infections among population
from Blantyre city, Chikwawa and Thyolo districts.
3. To analyze determinants of submicroscopic malaria infection in the population from
among populations from Blantyre city, Chikwawa and Thyolo districts
Methodology
Type of study:
This is a cross sectional study design which will utilize secondary data that was collected for
cross sectional survey conducted by malaria alert center in three districts names; Blantyre city,
Thyolo and Chikwawa between 2012 and 2016. In the surveys, houses were sampled from
sampled areas withing these districts and all people belonging to selected household were
interviewed, their blood samples collected, the area around the house inspected and mosquitoes
collected from the houses for analysis. Microscopy was done to test for malaria parasites and
those that tested negative were tested using PCR to determine those with submicroscopic
infections. We will look at those with submicroscopic infection to look for determinants of this
infection.
Expected findings and Their dissemination
The project is expected to produce results on determinants of submicroscopic malaria infection which will be added knowledge to the already known prevalence of submicroscopic malaria in these districts which could help drive policy as well as strategies to help with control and elimination of malaria in Malawi. Results will be disseminated locally at the Malaria alert center, college of medicine, Kamuzu college of health sciences, college of medicine research ethics committee, and shared with the district health officers and other partners in malaria control and management working in these districts as well as published in medical journals.
Description
Keywords
Identifying Determinants of Submicroscopic Malaria in Malawi