TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence of malaria infection and the impact of mosquito bed net distribution among children aged 6–59 months in Ghana
T2 - Evidence from the Ghana demographic health and malarial indicator surveys
AU - Tetteh, John
AU - Yorke, Ernest
AU - Boima, Vincent
AU - Yawson, Alfred Edwin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023
PY - 2023/5
Y1 - 2023/5
N2 - Objective: To assess the prevalence of malaria infection and further quantify the impact of mosquito bed net distribution on malaria infection among children aged 6–59 months in Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional study using Ghana Demographic Health (GDHS) and Malaria Indicator (GMIS) surveys (2014 GDHS, 2016 GMIS, and 2019 GMIS). The exposure and the main outcomes were mosquito bed net use (MBU) and malaria infection (MI). Relative percentage change (Δ) and prevalence ratio (PR) were estimated to assess the changes and the risk of MI by MBU respectively. The Propensity-score matching treatment effect model was employed to estimate the average treatment effect (ATE) of MBU on MI. All analyses were performed using Stata 16.1 and p-value<0.05 was deemed significant. Results: The study involved 8781 children aged 6–59 months. MI ranged from 25.8%(22.3–29.7) in 2019 GMIS to 40.6%(37.0–44.2) in 2014 GDHS and the prevalence was significantly high among children who used mosquito bed net. The relative percentage change in MI prevalence showed a significant reduction rate and was high among non-MBU (p-value<0.05). In all, the adjusted PR of MI among children exposed to MBU was 1.21(1.08–1.35), 1.13(1.01–1.28), and 1.50(1.20–1.75) in 2014 GDHS, 2016 GMIS, and 2019 GMIS respectively. The average MI among participants who slept in mosquito bed net significantly increased by 8%(0.04 to 0.12), 4%(0.003 to 0.08), and 7%(0.03 to 0.11) in 2014 GDHS, 2016 GMIS, and 2019 GMIS respectively. Conclusion: Even though malaria infection prevalence among children aged 6–59 months is decreasing, the reduction rate seems not to be directly linked with mosquito bed nets distribution and/or use in Ghana. For a continued distribution of mosquito bed nets, and for Ghana to achieve her Malaria Strategic Plan (NMSP) 2021–2025, program managers should ensure effective use of the distributed nets in addition to other preventive measures and nuanced consideration of community behaviours in Ghana. The effective use and care of bed nets should be emphasized as part of the distribution.
AB - Objective: To assess the prevalence of malaria infection and further quantify the impact of mosquito bed net distribution on malaria infection among children aged 6–59 months in Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional study using Ghana Demographic Health (GDHS) and Malaria Indicator (GMIS) surveys (2014 GDHS, 2016 GMIS, and 2019 GMIS). The exposure and the main outcomes were mosquito bed net use (MBU) and malaria infection (MI). Relative percentage change (Δ) and prevalence ratio (PR) were estimated to assess the changes and the risk of MI by MBU respectively. The Propensity-score matching treatment effect model was employed to estimate the average treatment effect (ATE) of MBU on MI. All analyses were performed using Stata 16.1 and p-value<0.05 was deemed significant. Results: The study involved 8781 children aged 6–59 months. MI ranged from 25.8%(22.3–29.7) in 2019 GMIS to 40.6%(37.0–44.2) in 2014 GDHS and the prevalence was significantly high among children who used mosquito bed net. The relative percentage change in MI prevalence showed a significant reduction rate and was high among non-MBU (p-value<0.05). In all, the adjusted PR of MI among children exposed to MBU was 1.21(1.08–1.35), 1.13(1.01–1.28), and 1.50(1.20–1.75) in 2014 GDHS, 2016 GMIS, and 2019 GMIS respectively. The average MI among participants who slept in mosquito bed net significantly increased by 8%(0.04 to 0.12), 4%(0.003 to 0.08), and 7%(0.03 to 0.11) in 2014 GDHS, 2016 GMIS, and 2019 GMIS respectively. Conclusion: Even though malaria infection prevalence among children aged 6–59 months is decreasing, the reduction rate seems not to be directly linked with mosquito bed nets distribution and/or use in Ghana. For a continued distribution of mosquito bed nets, and for Ghana to achieve her Malaria Strategic Plan (NMSP) 2021–2025, program managers should ensure effective use of the distributed nets in addition to other preventive measures and nuanced consideration of community behaviours in Ghana. The effective use and care of bed nets should be emphasized as part of the distribution.
KW - Children
KW - Ghana
KW - Malaria
KW - Mosquito bed nets
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85157975802&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.parepi.2023.e00302
DO - 10.1016/j.parepi.2023.e00302
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85157975802
SN - 2405-6731
VL - 21
JO - Parasite Epidemiology and Control
JF - Parasite Epidemiology and Control
M1 - e00302
ER -