Malaria Severity in the Elimination Continuum: A Retrospective Cohort Study between Beitbridge and Lupane Districts in Zimbabwe, 2021–2023

Same Betera, Bambang Wispriyono (), Wilfred Njabulo Nunu, Dewi Susanna, Nicholas Midzi, Patience Dhliwayo, Fitra Yelda and Melisa Nyamukondiwa
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Same Betera: Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Kampus Baru Depok, Universitas Indonesia, Kota Depok 16424, Jawa Barat, Indonesia
Bambang Wispriyono: Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Kampus Baru Depok, Universitas Indonesia, Kota Depok 16424, Jawa Barat, Indonesia
Wilfred Njabulo Nunu: Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Botswana, Gaborone UB 0022, Botswana
Dewi Susanna: Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Kampus Baru Depok, Universitas Indonesia, Kota Depok 16424, Jawa Barat, Indonesia
Nicholas Midzi: National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), Ministry of Health and Child Care, 65 Josiah Tongogara, Harare Street, Harare P.O. Box CY 1122, Zimbabwe
Patience Dhliwayo: National Malaria and Control Program, Ministry of Health and Child Care, Kaguvi Building, 4th Floor, Causeway, Harare P.O. Box CY 1122, Zimbabwe
Fitra Yelda: Research Center of Health Science, Faculty of Public Health, Kampus Baru Depok, Universitas Indonesia, Kota Depok 16424, Jawa Barat, Indonesia
Melisa Nyamukondiwa: Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Kampus Baru Depok, Universitas Indonesia, Kota Depok 16424, Jawa Barat, Indonesia

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 7, 1-14

Abstract: Malaria has created a resurgence crisis in Zimbabwe’s elimination continuum, diverging from global commitment to malaria elimination by 2030. This retrospective cohort study aimed to determine the risk factors associated with severe malaria in the Beitbridge and Lupane districts. Multistage sampling was used to recruit 2414 individuals recorded in the District Health Information Software2 Tracker database. The study used IBM SPSS 29.0.2.0(20) for data analysis, and odds ratios (ORs) to estimate the relative risk (RR; 95% C.I; p < 0.05). The study revealed significant relative risks ( p -value < 0.05) for individuals who had no Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (Beitbridge 47.4; Lupane 12.3), those who owned but used the LLINs (Beitbridge 24.9; Lupane 7.83), those who slept outdoors during the night (Beitbridge 84.4; Lupane 1.93), and adults (Beitbridge 0.18; Lupane 0.22) compared to the corresponding reference groups. Other factors showed varying RR: sex (Beitbridge 126.1), prompt treatment (Beitbridge 6.78), hosting visitor(s) (Lupane 6.19), and residence (Lupane 1.94) compared to the corresponding reference groups. Risk factor management needs to focus on increasing local awareness of malaria, universal LLINs coverage of indoor and outdoor sleeping spaces, community-based programs on proper and consistent LLIN usage, screening of visitors from malaria-endemic areas, comprehensive entomological activities, mixed malaria interventions in rural hotspots, and future research on local malaria transmission dynamics. While Zimbabwe has the potential to meet the global goal of malaria elimination, success depends on overcoming the risk factors to sustain the gains already made among malaria elimination districts.

Keywords: malaria elimination; malaria severity; resurgence; travel history; vulnerability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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