Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Malaria Parasites in Vihiga County, Western Kenya

Muzame, Beatrice Aleyo; Elizabeth, Omukunda; David, Mulama

doi:10.21608/eajbse.2022.285127

Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Malaria Parasites in Vihiga County, Western Kenya

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya, Kakamega city Kenya.

² Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya

10.21608/eajbse.2022.285127

Abstract

Malaria is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study was carried out at Mbale Provincial Rural Training Health Center in Vihiga County, Western Kenya. The study determined the spatial and temporal distribution of malaria parasites for one year. 768 malaria patients were purposively recruited and stratified according to age and location. Data was collected using interviews and microscopic examination and analyzed using SPSS software version 17. P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. 98.7% malaria patients had Plasmodium falciparum, P. malariae 0.8%, P. vivax 0.4% and P. ovale 0.1%. Edzava ward recorded all Plasmodium species. Lugaga/Wamuluma ward had 45.1% malaria patients, Edzava 36.2% and Central Maragoli 18.3%. Male malaria patients were 49.3% who recorded all Plasmodium species while 51.7% were females without Plasmodium ovale. All age groups were diagnosed with P. falciparum while P. malariae and P. ovale were missing among 14-18 years old children and no P. ovale in children below 5 years old. Linear regression results showed effect of age, ward, gender on malaria infection as (R² = 0.7, [F(3,764) = 1.854] , p < 0 136) but wards were statistically significant (p = 0.034). Linear regression result for effect of time trend on malaria infection was (R² = 0.527, [F (3,8) = 2.976], p < 0.097). Climate, altitude and land use activities favored the breeding of mosquitoes which increased malaria transmission. Study results obtained will assist malaria case management bodies in frequently monitoring the effect of geographical location and time trends on malaria infection.

Keywords