Prevalence of malaria among in-patient and out-patient febrile children aged five years and below at Banadir Hospital, Somalia

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of malaria and associated factors among febrile children aged five years and below at Banadir Hospital, Somalia.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study examined 246 children aged five and below using systematic random sampling. Malaria infection was diagnosed by microscopy of thin blood films. Binary logistic regression assessed associations between confirmed malaria and various predictors.

Results: The study found the highest malaria prevalence in children under 12 months at 35.7%, which dropped to 15.2% in children aged 12-24 months. Prevalence increased to 31.4% in children aged 25-36 months, 32.0% in those aged 37-48 months, and peaked at 38.1% in children aged 49-60 months. After controlling for other factors, children's age, caregivers' knowledge of headache as a malaria symptom, and the use of preventative measures were significantly associated with malaria infection. Children aged 12-24 months were 18% less likely to have malaria than those under 12 months (AOR=0.82; 95% CI: 0.65-0.94). Caregivers' awareness of headache as a symptom reduced the likelihood of malaria infection by 44% (AOR=0.56; 95% CI: 0.42-0.89). Children whose caregivers used indoor residual spraying (IRS) had a 22% lower likelihood of infection compared to those using insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) (AOR=0.78; 95% CI: 0.61-0.92).

Conclusion: Key risk factors include child's age, caregivers' symptom knowledge, and preventive measures used. Health administrators should create educational programs to raise awareness of malaria symptoms and prevention and increase access to insecticide-treated nets and other malaria control tools, especially for children under five.