Description:
Abstract:
:Background: Burma records the highest number of malaria deaths in southeast Asia and may
represent a reservoir of infection for its neighbors, but the burden of disease and magnitude of
transmission among border populations of Burma remains unknown.
Methods: Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) parasitemia was detected using a HRP-II antigen based rapid
test (Paracheck-Pf®). Pf prevalence was estimated from screenings conducted in 49 villages
participating in a malaria control program, and four retrospective mortality cluster surveys
encompassing a sampling frame of more than 220,000. Crude odds ratios were calculated to
evaluate Pf prevalence by age, sex, and dry vs. rainy season.
Results: 9,796 rapid tests were performed among 28,410 villagers in malaria program areas
through four years (2003: 8.4%, 95% CI: 8.3 ? 8.6; 2004: 7.1%, 95% CI: 6.9 ? 7.3; 2005:10.5%, 95%
CI: 9.3 ? 11.8 and 2006: 9.3%, 95% CI: 8.2 ? 10.6). Children under 5 (OR = 1.99; 95% CI: 1.93 ?
2.06) and those 5 to 14 years (OR = 2.24, 95% CI: 2.18 ? 2.29) were more likely to be positive than
adults. Prevalence was slightly higher among females (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.02 ? 1.06) and in the
rainy season (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.16 ? 1.88). Among 5,538 rapid tests conducted in four cluster
surveys, 10.2% were positive (range 6.3%, 95% CI: 3.9 ? 8.8; to 12.4%, 95% CI: 9.4 ? 15.4).
Conclusion: Prevalence of plasmodium falciparum in conflict areas of eastern Burma is higher than
rates reported among populations in neighboring Thailand, particularly among children. This
population serves as a large reservoir of infection that contributes to a high disease burden within
Burma and likely constitutes a source of infection for neighboring regions."
Source/publisher:
Conflict and Health
Date of Publication:
2007-09-05
Date of entry:
2008-01-01
Grouping:
- Individual Documents
Category:
Language:
English