Factors associated with malaria incidence in Montserraado county, liberia

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to identify those factors that are associated with the incidence of malaria in Montserrado County, Liberia. This study analyze the socio-economic factors associated with the households getting infected by malaria and then provide additional information that will be used by the policy makers in the process of preventing and controlling malaria in Liberia. A total of 400 households were sampled during the survey conducted in the Greater Monrovia District of Montserrado County, Liberia. The logistic model was employed to estimate the malaria incidence as the dependent variable against the independent variables as follows: Income, Age, Access to health care, Family size, Sex, Residence, Educational status, Occupation, Knowledge, attitude, and practices, Insecticide treated nets, Intermittent preventive treatment, Indoor residual spraying, Position, Mosquito/insect repellent, Use of mosquito coils, Use insecticide spraying, Keeping surrounding clean. The study results showed that 67 % of the respondents were in possession of insecticide treated nets (ITN), while 75 % of them mentioned at least three symptoms of malaria. 80 % of the respondents also mention at least three causes of malaria. The following variables were significant and associated with malaria incidence: At significant level alpha = 0.01, were Income of the respondents and Age of the respondents. At significant at level α = 0.05, was Sex of the respondents. And at significant level alpha = 0.10, was Access to health care. The used of mosquito coils correlated with malaria incidence at α=0.10, and was said to have been the practice of the relative poor respondents against the malaria incidence. The study identified some aspects that the government of Liberia needs to improve; Access to health care by improving the health facilities and ensuring that malaria treatment is standardized. Income, government needs to provide more funds to keep the environment clean and sanitations up to date, the government should ensure that more knowledge is given to the female residence to keep the home and environment from mosquitoes. Finally, the mosquito nets was not the only solution for prevention and control of malaria, as the children accounted for 71% of malaria deaths and there is a need for government to visit the current strategy, by blending the nets option with environmental control and other needed interventions