Malaria Pattern in A District of Central India

Abstract

Introduction: Malaria has been a major public health problem in India especially in the areas rich in forests and water resources e.g. Chhattisgarh. The study was carried out to determine the pattern of malaria and to assess the prevalence of malaria in a district of the region.

Methodology: A longitudinal study on malaria was carried out from 2004 to 2013 in the Bilaspur district which has been an area of unstable malaria in central India for long duration.

Results: Out of total 2380570 examined persons only 42320 (1.9%) were positive i.e. Total Positive Cases (TPC) for malaria parasite (C.G.) and out these only 24849 (59.1%) were Plasmodium falciparum (PF).Thus the Plasmodium falciparum was highly prevalent in the study area; however, the risk of P. falciparum malaria was 59.1 % (average often years i.e. from 2004 to 2013 was taken), (95% confidence interval [CI] = 58.4–62.6%), An increasing trend was recorded in malaria prevalence from 48.0% in 2004 to 63.1% in 2013 (odds ratio [OR] = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.6–3.5) that increased to 57.3% in 2005 (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.2–2.1).

Conclusions: Because no declining trends were observed during the whole study duration of 10 years therefore malaria especially falciparum malaria is a matter of concern for the authorities responsible for management of Malaria at various levels of public health sector i.e. primary, secondary and tertiary level in the study area.