A morbidity and malariometric survey in a rural community in western Kenya

Abstract

Objective: To determine occurrence of illness and malaria in the households.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Rural community in Sigomre Location, Ugunja Constituency, Siaya County, Kenya.

Subjects or participants: Households heads and children less than five years old

Interventions: Morbidity recall. Blood slide for malaria parasites

Main outcome measures: Experience of features of malaria followed by Respiratory Tract Infection (RTI) visiting a health facility for treatment, timeliness of interventions and testing for malaria

Results and conclusion: Up to 211 households were sampled. Cross tabulation between the variables was performed. Upto 62.6% (132) households had experienced illness in last 2 weeks and occurrence of illness and house type was significant (Chi-square 17.575, P = 0.000). Upto 64.1% (84) of households had experienced features of malaria. Types of disease experienced and source of water for the household was significant (Chi-square 51.932, P=0.001). Upto 56.8% (75) of households had visited a health centre and intervention taken and type of disease was significant (Chi-square 67.445, P= 0.000). Interventions in 36.6% (48) households were timely and timeliness and type of disease was significant (Chi-square 15.161, P=0.004). Only children in 36.0% (76) of the households tested positive for malaria and the presence of malaria parasites and main source of water was significant (Chi-square 15.064, P=0.020).

Recommendations: Adapt 2 week recall for community studies. Sensitize the community on features of malaria. Reinforce the importance of timely intervention. Explore partnerships with traditional healers for timely interventions. Improve sources of water for the households to reduce burden of malaria.