PREVALENCE OF MALARIA AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH HEMOGLOBIN AMONG PATIENTS VISITING PAWE GENERAL HOSPITAL, NORTH-EAST ETHIOPIA

Human malaria is a common life-threatening disease in many tropical and sub-tropical areas. It is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality resulting in serious socio-economic problems particularly in developing countries and one of the major tropical diseases adversely affecting the health of the peoples and the economic development of many developing countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of malaria and its association with haemoglobin level among local patients visiting Pawe General Hospital in Pawe Town North-west Ethiopia during peak malaria transmission season, in 2016. Clinical records of malaria for the last five years were obtained from the Hospital were analyzed. Malaria diagnosis was carried out based on microscopic examination of thick and thin Giemsa stained blood films from randomly selected samples of 402 participants during the peak malaria transmission season, October - December 2016. Additionally, structured and pre tested questionnaires were used to assess the socio-demographic characteristics and the level of knowledge and awareness of the respondents related to malaria. The data from the clinical records showed that malaria was dominant diseases in the study area. Results of parasitological survey showed that the most dominant Plasmodium species was P. falciparum. Among the overall prevalence of 40.0% malaria parasite among studied population, P. falciparum (86.9%) and P. vivax (13.0%) respectively. Out of the 161 malaria patients, 81 respondents were an anemic and there were significance variations of anemic prevalence among age groups (P=0.025) and haemoglobin concentration was statistically associated with age status (X2=22.60). Regular health education must be provide to raise individual and community awareness about the mode of malaria transmission, prevention and control.