Abstract:
Background
Malaria and anemia remain major public health challenges in Tanzania. Household socio economic factors are known to influence these conditions. However, it is not clear how
these factors influence malaria transmission and anemia in Masasi and Nanyumbu Districts.
This study presents findings on malaria and anemia situation in under-five children and its
influencing socioeconomic factors in Masasi and Nanyumbu Districts, surveyed as part of
an ongoing seasonal malaria chemoprevention operational study.
Methods
A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted between August and September
2020. Finger-prick blood samples collected from children aged 3–59 months were used to
test for malaria infection using malaria rapid diagnostic test (mRDT), thick smears for deter mination of asexual and sexual parasitemia, and thin smear for parasite speciation. Hemo globin concentration was measured using a HemoCue spectrophotometer. A structured
questionnaire was used to collect household socioeconomic information from parents/care givers of screened children. The prevalence of malaria was the primary outcome. Chi square tests, t-tests, and logistic regression models were used appropriately.
Results
Overall mRDT-based malaria prevalence was 15.9% (373/2340), and was significantly
higher in Nanyumbu (23.7% (167/705) than Masasi District (12.6% (206/1635), p<0.001.
Location (Nanyumbu), no formal education, household number of people, household num ber of under-fives, not having a bed net, thatched roof, open/partially open eave, sand/soi
floor, and low socioeconomic status were major risks for malaria infection. Some 53.9%
(1196/2218) children had anemia, and the majority were in Nanyumbu (63.5% (458/705),
p<0.001. Location (Nanyumbu), mRDT positive, not owning a bed net, not sleeping under
bed net, open/partially open eave, thatched window, sex of the child, and age of the child
were major risk factors for anemia.
Conclusion
Prevalence of malaria and anemia was high and was strongly associated with household
socioeconomic factors. Improving household socioeconomic status is expected to reduce
the prevalence of the conditions in the area.
