PREVALENCE OF MALARIA AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG UNDER-FIVE CHILDREN IN ILU-GALAN DISTRICT, OROMIA REGION, WEST ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Malaria continues to impact the health of children in Ethiopia. Ilu Galan is an area of intense and prolonged, seasonal malaria transmission, and malaria is still the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five years. This study aimed to determine malaria prevalence and associated risk factors among under-five children in the Ilu Galan district. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2023 in the Ilu Galan district in West Shewa Zone, Ethiopia. A multi-stage sampling technique was carried out to select representative households. A systematic random sampling technique was applied to enroll 557 study participants. Malaria was determined using thick and thin blood film microscopy and a rapid diagnostic test kit. Furthermore, a pre-tested structured questionnaire was administered to collect the socio-demographic characteristics of the study participants who were associated with malaria infection. Data was cleaned and entered into Epi data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done to identify risk factors associated with malaria. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to determine the strength of association of variables. P-value < 0.05 at 95% CI was considered statistically significant. Results: The overall prevalence of malaria among under-five children in the study area was 5.2%(28/542). P. falciparum, P. vivax, and mixed infection (both species) accounted for 71.4%, 25%, and 3.6% of the cases, respectively. Low parasitemia15/28 (53.6%)was more common, and high parasitemia13/28( 46.4%) with the proportion of parasite density respectively. Malaria infection was corelated to staying out door at night(AOR=3.09;95%CI:1.01-9.478),utilization of ITN(AOR=.261;95% CI:0.073-0.939), presence of eave on the house(AOR=4.081;95%CI:1.202 13.437),<1kmdistance of house hold from river(AOR=4.317;95%CI:1.194-15.618) and presence of stagnant water nearby house(AOR=11.399;95% CI:3.710-35.021). Conclusion: Malaria is still a common health problem in the study area, so the local government and other concerned bodies should focus on malaria prevention and control to minimize the burden.