Risk factors for malaria in children presenting with fever or history of fever in rural Gambia

Abstract

Successful control of malaria depends upon the detailed knowledge of its epidemiology, including the knowledge of environmental, behavioral, socio-economic and socio-demographic factors that influence its prevalence, and on the knowledge and use of preventive measures. We carried out a cross-sectional study to assess the risk factors for malaria in children presenting with fever in rural Gambia. Three hundred and seventy-six children aged 5 months to 10 years presenting to Farafenni health centre, the Gambia with fever or history of fever were enrolled. The socio-demographic characteristics, clinical findings, and knowledge and use of preventive measures in malaria were documented. Finger-prick blood sampling for malaria was obtained and two sets of smears (thick and thin) were prepared and stained with Giemsa stain. One hundred and eighty two children (48.4%) had malaria. The significant risk factors associated with malaria were non-use of insecticide treated bed nets [χ² = 8.82, P = 0.01, (95% confidence interval 0.10–0.67)] and age [χ² = 9.18, P = 0.004, (95% confidence interval 0.31–0.78)]. There were no significant associations identified between the development of malaria and parental education, occupation, knowledge of the cause of malaria, type of roof or wall in the home, or whether the parents reared livestock.

Keywords

Risk factors - uncomplicated malaria - fever - Gambia