The Effect of Control Measures on Prevalence of Malaria and Anaemia in Children Under Five (5) Years in Hohoe Municipality

Abstract

Malaria and anaemia continues to be a burden in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta region of Ghana. In 2006, two cross- sectional studies were carried out in thirty communities among children under five years in the municipality in June and November to determine the prevalence of malaria and anaemia. This formed the baseline malaria and anemia prevalence in the municipality. After this study, insecticide treated nets (ITNs) and Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACTs) were introduced in the municipality in the same year. This study sought to evaluate the current prevalence of malaria and anaemia five years after the introduction of ITNs and ACTs among children under five in the Hohoe municipality. It also determined the relationship between ITN use, socio-economic status (SES) and malaria and anaemia prevalence. Method employed was a community-based cross-sectional study which looked at the prevalence of malaria and anaemia and compared the prevalence between the two years in the thirty communities. Sampling was by purposive sampling after selecting the thirty communities by a one stage cluster sampling. It involved 2155 children under five. Malaria was measured by examination of thick blood films for malaria parasites and aneamia measured with a haemocure. Information was obtained on ITN ownership, use, effectiveness, SES and educational level. Univariate, Bivariate and logistic regression models were used for analysis. The findings were, malaria prevalence decreased from 9.0% to 7.2% (OR 0.79, 95% CI: 0.63, 0.99, P=0.049) in 2006 and 2010 respectively. Anaemia decreased from 7.9% to 5.3%(OR 0.65, 95% CI:0.51,0.85,P=0.001) in 2006 and 2010 respectively.ITN ownership, use and effectiveness increased from 29.9%, 20.2% and 19.8% respectively in 2006 to 65.0%, 42.0% and 34.3% respectively in 2010. However, there was no association between ITN use, effectiveness, SES and parental education and malaria and anaemia prevalence. Age of the children was significantly associated with malaria prevalence. It was concluded that, there was an association between the malaria control interventions and malaria and anaemia prevalence reduction, hence it needs to be intensified in the municipality.