Assessment Trends Of Malaria Prevalence And Community’s Knowledge, Attitudes And Prevention Practice In Ilu Galan District, Oromia, West Shoa Zone, Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Malaria is foremost health problem in the world predominantly in developing countries including Ethiopia which is a leading cause of illness and deaths. In Ethiopia various control measures have been taken but, it is tranquil the health problem of dwellers. The main objective of this study was to assess community’s Knowledge and attitudes towards malaria elimination by the community. A five-year (2019-2023) malaria data had been collected from Ejaji Health Center laboratory registration book and current Health center based cross-sectional study data were collected from 1236 malaria suspected patients visited in Ijaji Health center from February 2023 – May 2023. A structure and pre-tested questionnaire was used to gather information of respondents on knowledge, attitude and control methods from 281 respondents of study area. The collected data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 22. From respondents 98.22% had ever heard about malaria disease from different source and have knowledge of the infection. About 97.15% of the communities recognized that as malaria was one of the major health problems in Ilu Galan district. Based on the clinical records for the period 2019-2023 a total of 784 malaria slide-positive patients were documented Ilu Galan district Ejaji health center from three selected malarious kebeles. The distribution of plasmodium species, 62.71% of the cases were due to P. falciparum, 36.97% were P.vivax and mixed were only 0.32%.The highest prevalence of p. falciparum recorded 68.99% in 2021 while the highest prevalence of p. vivax was recorded 45.95% in 2023.From 2019 to 2023 malaria prevalence cases by plasmodium species showed fluctuating trend manner. The average monthly malaria prevalence was 25.08%. But, the number of suspected and confirmed cases showed a fluctuating pattern in the months studied. The highest number of cases was registered in May 35.35%.The existence of high prevalence P. falciparum in the study district indicating that, much attention has been given to control P. vivax. Eventhough the prevalence of P. vivax is higher when compared with malaria elimination strategy and malaria national profile. This could be a prodigious challenge for the success of continuing malaria elimination Programme in Ethiopia. Therefore, concerned bodies should act violently in order to control the high prevalence of P. vivax in Ilu Galan district, West Shoa Zone, Western Ethiopia.