Epidemiology and likelihood of asymptomatic malaria among community dwellers in the Fanteakwa south district of Ghana

Background: Data on the asymptomatic burden of malaria in endemic areas is essential for Ghana's malaria elimination efforts. Consequently, the situation of asymptomatic malaria in the Fanteakwa South District (FSD) is determined in this study. The FSD is predominantly forested with more rural...

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Main Authors: Enoch Aninagyei, David Adedia, Gifty Larbi, Stella Omane Acheampong, Margaret Nyarko, George Abeiku Abbew, Isaac Tuwarlba, Desmond Omane Acheampong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-11-01
Series:Parasite Epidemiology and Control
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405673124000424
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author Enoch Aninagyei
David Adedia
Gifty Larbi
Stella Omane Acheampong
Margaret Nyarko
George Abeiku Abbew
Isaac Tuwarlba
Desmond Omane Acheampong
author_facet Enoch Aninagyei
David Adedia
Gifty Larbi
Stella Omane Acheampong
Margaret Nyarko
George Abeiku Abbew
Isaac Tuwarlba
Desmond Omane Acheampong
author_sort Enoch Aninagyei
collection DOAJ
description Background: Data on the asymptomatic burden of malaria in endemic areas is essential for Ghana's malaria elimination efforts. Consequently, the situation of asymptomatic malaria in the Fanteakwa South District (FSD) is determined in this study. The FSD is predominantly forested with more rural than peri-urban communities. Additionally, artisanal mining is prevalent in the district. Despite that the forgoing could promote high incidence of malaria, the burden of asymptomatic malaria and associated factors in the district have never been determined. Methods: This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in four randomly selected communities in the FSD in the Eastern region of Ghana. The participating households were systematically selected, of which one household member was randomly enrolled in the study. With prior consent, 2 mL of whole blood was collected from the participants. Subsequently, the study variables were obtained from the enrolees using a structured questionnaire. The malaria status of the enrolled participants was determined using the CareStart™ malaria rapid diagnostic test kit (mRDT) (USA). The multiple logistic regression model was used to fit the model to predict the groups at risk of P. falciparum infection in the district. Results: In total, 412 study participants were enrolled. The overall prevalence of asymptomatic malaria in the district was 43.4 % (179/412). The prevalence rate was 36.9 %, 27.7 %, 50 % and 58.8 % (<0.001) respectively for the Dwenase, Bosusu, Nsutam and Osino communities. Living at Bosusu (p = 0.045, AOR = 0.23, 95 % CI: 0.05–0.96), Dwenase (p < 0.001, AOR = 0.12, 95 % CI: 0.04–0.30) and Nsutam (p < 0.001, AOR = 0.19, 95 % CI: 0.08–0.45) were less likely to contract malaria compared to Osino dwellers. Furthermore, pregnant women (p = 0.024, COR = 0.35, 95 % CI: 0.14–0.9) and individuals who do not share mosquito nets with others (p = 0.017, COR = 0.47, 95 % CI: 0.25–0.88) were less likely to contract malaria. Moreover, being an adolescent (p = 0.048, COR = 1.93, 95 % CI: 1.00–3.73), living in mining communities (p = 0.002, COR = 1.97, 95 % CI: 1.27–3.05), being nocturnally active (p = 0.001, AOR = 4.64, 95 % CI: 1.97–11.31), living in a medium quality house (p = 0.031, AOR = 2.31, 95 % CI: 1.09–5.00), schooling in the district (p < 0.001) and body temperature above >37.5 °C (<0.001), were predictors of asymptomatic malaria. Conclusions: The burden of asymptomatic malaria is high in the Fanteakwa South district. In this context, the implementation of the ‘mass strategy’ recommended by the World Health Organization will play a key role in eliminating malaria in the district.
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spelling doaj-art-9a6cd5bdb31b4e79ad9362ffda2ed7ef2024-12-18T08:49:38ZengElsevierParasite Epidemiology and Control2405-67312024-11-0127e00378Epidemiology and likelihood of asymptomatic malaria among community dwellers in the Fanteakwa south district of GhanaEnoch Aninagyei0David Adedia1Gifty Larbi2Stella Omane Acheampong3Margaret Nyarko4George Abeiku Abbew5Isaac Tuwarlba6Desmond Omane Acheampong7School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, PMB 31 Ho, Volta Region, Ghana; Corresponding authors.School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Basic, University of Health and Allied Sciences, PMB 31 Ho, Volta Region, GhanaSchool of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Central Region, GhanaSchool of Physical Sciences, Department of Statistics, University of Cape Coast, Central Region, GhanaGhana Health Service, Fanteakwa South District Health Directorate, Eastern Region, GhanaSchool of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Central Region, GhanaSchool of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Central Region, GhanaSchool of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Central Region, Ghana; Corresponding authors.Background: Data on the asymptomatic burden of malaria in endemic areas is essential for Ghana's malaria elimination efforts. Consequently, the situation of asymptomatic malaria in the Fanteakwa South District (FSD) is determined in this study. The FSD is predominantly forested with more rural than peri-urban communities. Additionally, artisanal mining is prevalent in the district. Despite that the forgoing could promote high incidence of malaria, the burden of asymptomatic malaria and associated factors in the district have never been determined. Methods: This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in four randomly selected communities in the FSD in the Eastern region of Ghana. The participating households were systematically selected, of which one household member was randomly enrolled in the study. With prior consent, 2 mL of whole blood was collected from the participants. Subsequently, the study variables were obtained from the enrolees using a structured questionnaire. The malaria status of the enrolled participants was determined using the CareStart™ malaria rapid diagnostic test kit (mRDT) (USA). The multiple logistic regression model was used to fit the model to predict the groups at risk of P. falciparum infection in the district. Results: In total, 412 study participants were enrolled. The overall prevalence of asymptomatic malaria in the district was 43.4 % (179/412). The prevalence rate was 36.9 %, 27.7 %, 50 % and 58.8 % (<0.001) respectively for the Dwenase, Bosusu, Nsutam and Osino communities. Living at Bosusu (p = 0.045, AOR = 0.23, 95 % CI: 0.05–0.96), Dwenase (p < 0.001, AOR = 0.12, 95 % CI: 0.04–0.30) and Nsutam (p < 0.001, AOR = 0.19, 95 % CI: 0.08–0.45) were less likely to contract malaria compared to Osino dwellers. Furthermore, pregnant women (p = 0.024, COR = 0.35, 95 % CI: 0.14–0.9) and individuals who do not share mosquito nets with others (p = 0.017, COR = 0.47, 95 % CI: 0.25–0.88) were less likely to contract malaria. Moreover, being an adolescent (p = 0.048, COR = 1.93, 95 % CI: 1.00–3.73), living in mining communities (p = 0.002, COR = 1.97, 95 % CI: 1.27–3.05), being nocturnally active (p = 0.001, AOR = 4.64, 95 % CI: 1.97–11.31), living in a medium quality house (p = 0.031, AOR = 2.31, 95 % CI: 1.09–5.00), schooling in the district (p < 0.001) and body temperature above >37.5 °C (<0.001), were predictors of asymptomatic malaria. Conclusions: The burden of asymptomatic malaria is high in the Fanteakwa South district. In this context, the implementation of the ‘mass strategy’ recommended by the World Health Organization will play a key role in eliminating malaria in the district.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405673124000424Asymptomatic malariaEpidemiologyMass strategyMass testingMass drug administrationMass relapse prevention
spellingShingle Enoch Aninagyei
David Adedia
Gifty Larbi
Stella Omane Acheampong
Margaret Nyarko
George Abeiku Abbew
Isaac Tuwarlba
Desmond Omane Acheampong
Epidemiology and likelihood of asymptomatic malaria among community dwellers in the Fanteakwa south district of Ghana
Parasite Epidemiology and Control
Asymptomatic malaria
Epidemiology
Mass strategy
Mass testing
Mass drug administration
Mass relapse prevention
title Epidemiology and likelihood of asymptomatic malaria among community dwellers in the Fanteakwa south district of Ghana
title_full Epidemiology and likelihood of asymptomatic malaria among community dwellers in the Fanteakwa south district of Ghana
title_fullStr Epidemiology and likelihood of asymptomatic malaria among community dwellers in the Fanteakwa south district of Ghana
title_full_unstemmed Epidemiology and likelihood of asymptomatic malaria among community dwellers in the Fanteakwa south district of Ghana
title_short Epidemiology and likelihood of asymptomatic malaria among community dwellers in the Fanteakwa south district of Ghana
title_sort epidemiology and likelihood of asymptomatic malaria among community dwellers in the fanteakwa south district of ghana
topic Asymptomatic malaria
Epidemiology
Mass strategy
Mass testing
Mass drug administration
Mass relapse prevention
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405673124000424
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