Incidence of Malaria in Areas Accessible to Taulihawa Hospital, Kapilbastu, Nepal

Abstract

The study was conducted from August 2006 to July 2007 only in the catchments areas of Taulihawa hospital which include 33 VDCs and 1 municipality.Total 705 blood slides were prepared from clinically suspected as malaria patients onthe basis of chief complaints of febrile illness with chills and rigor or sweating orheadache or muscular pain/malaise. Fever with clinical anaemia or spelenomegalyand pyrexia of unknown origin were also included. 109 cases were found positive formalaria among total cases examined. The incidence of malaria in the study areasduring the study period was 0.52/1000 population. The SPR among the studypopulation was 15.42%. The incidence of malaria was high in male population(0.76/1000) than in female population (0.27/1000). It was due to out door exposure ofmales to mosquitoes than females.96(88.07%) infections were due toP.vivax,whileP. falciparumandP.mix were 10(9.2%) and 3(2.73%) respectively.P. falciparuminfections were increasing from previous years. This indicates that there might beresurgence of malaria in comingyears. The imported cases contributed 43(39.44%)and indigenous cases were 66(60.56%) indicating more attention for cross bordermonitoring of malaria cases in the country.The study showed its incidence among allthe ages and both sexes. The most infections (25.33%) were found in age group 21-30years and the least (4.05%) in >60 years. The API was also the highest in age group21-30 years and the lowest in age group 0-10 years. Out of total cases, 4(3.67%)children of age <5 years were found to be infected that indicates a serious publichealth burden. The analysis of collected data revealed that the disease was a peak inJuly (27). Season-wise distribution showed that the highest numbers of cases werefound in spring and summer. This was due to optimum environment for mosquito tobread. Data showed that all the castes were susceptible to malaria infection. Theincidence of malaria was the highest in Baniya/Kalwar population (2.27/1000).Among study areas, the incidence of malaria in Dharampaniya VDC (1.68/1000) wasthe highest whereas SPR was the highest in Parshohiya VDC (21.42%). Literacy ofpositive cases was only 29.36%. Only 62% of total positive cases (109) were awarethat the malaria was caused by mosquitoes bite. However, the awareness was highamong positive cases, preventive measures applied were poor. Only 11.92%respondents used mosquito-net to avoid vector bite. 5.5% practiced of spraying.6.42% used oil and interestingly 47.10% did not use any method. People recognizedmalaria as a significantdisease. The present study shows that the crucial determinantswere literacy, awareness of malaria transmission and preventive measures.