Magnitude of Malaria and Associated Factors Among Febrile Patients Visiting Public Health Facilities in Olanchity Town, East Shewa, Central Ethiopia, 2022. Crosssectional Study Design.

Abstract

Background: Mortality and Morbidity caused by malaria is a major public health problem in developing countries like Ethiopia. Despite efforts to reduce its impact on community, the disease is still a projecting health problem in Ethiopia. In the study area, there is no study done that indicated extent of malaria and predisposing factors related as far as our knowledge concerned. This study, therefore, was undertaken to assess the magnitude of malaria and associated factors among febrile patient visiting public health facilities in Olanchit Town.Objectives: to assess the magnitude of malaria and associated factors among febrile patients visiting public health facilities in Olanchit Town, East Shewa, Central Ethiopia.Methods: Institution based cross sectional study was conducted from April 1st - June 30th, 2022. Every other febrile patient from all patients visiting the health facilities during the data collection period were interviewed using structured interviewer administered questionnaire. The collected data was coded, edited and entered in to Epi-Info version 7.1 and analyzed SPSS version 24. Descriptive statistics was performed to describe the magnitudes of malaria. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify associated factors at 95% confidence interval and P -value <0.05 was used as cut-off points to declare significance in the final model.Result: in the study 306 respondents were involved making response rate 100%. Among febrile cases visited public health 85 (27.8%), (95% CI;17.0, 26.1) were positive for malaria cases and P. Vivax 43 (14.1%) were dominant species followed by mixed 26 (8.5%) and more cases 47 (15.4%) were observed in male. Malaria infection were associated with Sex who are male in gender (AOR = 5.7; 95% CI. 2. 74 – 16.1; P= 0.021), Age (AOR =7.7, 95% CI; 2.191 – 27. 321, P= 0.007), family members ever contracted malaria in their life (AOR = 3.7; 95% CI 1.469, 7.108; P = value 0.004).Conclusion and Recommendation: malaria cases found in this report was high when compared with strategies being followed now by MOH. To lower the prevalence of malaria infection there should be strong community mobilizer and active case search which might contribute to elimination goal that targeted clearing new and existing cases.