BACKGROUND: In Ethiopia, malaria is seasonal and unstable, causing frequent epidemics. It usually occurs at altitudes < 2,000 m above sea level. Occasionally, transmission of malaria occurs in areas previously free of malaria, including areas > 2,000 m above sea level. For transmission of malaria parasite, climatic factors are important determinants as well as non-climatic factors that can negate climatic influences. Indeed, there is a scarcity of information on the correlation between climatic variability and malaria transmission risk in Ethiopia in general and in the study area in particular. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the level of correlation between meteorological variables and malaria cases. METHODS: Time-series analysis was conducted using data on monthly meteorological variables and monthly total malaria in Jimma town, south west Ethiopia, for the period 2000-2009. All the data were entered and analyzed using SPSS-15 database program. Spearman correlation and linear regression analysis were used to asses association between the variables. RESULTS: During last ten years (2000-2009), a fluctuating trend of malaria transmission was observed with P.vivax becoming predominant species. Spearman correlation analysis showed that monthly minimum temperature, total rainfall and two measures of relative humidity were positively related with malaria but monthly maximum temperature negatively related. Also regression analysis suggested that monthly minimum (p = 0.008), monthly maximum temperature (p = 0.013) and monthly total rainfall (p = 0.040), at one month lagged effect, were significant meteorological factors for transmission of malaria in the study area. CONCLUSION: Malaria incidences in the last decade seem to have a significant association with meteorological variables. In future, prospective and multidisciplinary cooperative research involving researchers from the fields of parasitology, epidemiology, botany, agriculture and climatology is necessary to identify the real effect of meteorological factors on vector- borne diseases like malaria.
BACKGROUND: In Ethiopia, malaria is seasonal and unstable, causing frequent epidemics. It usually occurs at altitudes < 2,000 m above sea level. Occasionally, transmission of malaria occurs in areas previously free of malaria, including areas > 2,000 m above sea level. For transmission of malaria parasite, climatic factors are important determinants as well as non-climatic factors that can negate climatic influences. Indeed, there is a scarcity of information on the correlation between climatic variability and malaria transmission risk in Ethiopia in general and in the study area in particular. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the level of correlation between meteorological variables and malaria cases. METHODS: Time-series analysis was conducted using data on monthly meteorological variables and monthly total malaria in Jimma town, south west Ethiopia, for the period 2000-2009. All the data were entered and analyzed using SPSS-15 database program. Spearman correlation and linear regression analysis were used to asses association between the variables. RESULTS: During last ten years (2000-2009), a fluctuating trend of malaria transmission was observed with P.vivax becoming predominant species. Spearman correlation analysis showed that monthly minimum temperature, total rainfall and two measures of relative humidity were positively related with malaria but monthly maximum temperature negatively related. Also regression analysis suggested that monthly minimum (p = 0.008), monthly maximum temperature (p = 0.013) and monthly total rainfall (p = 0.040), at one month lagged effect, were significant meteorological factors for transmission of malaria in the study area. CONCLUSION:Malaria incidences in the last decade seem to have a significant association with meteorological variables. In future, prospective and multidisciplinary cooperative research involving researchers from the fields of parasitology, epidemiology, botany, agriculture and climatology is necessary to identify the real effect of meteorological factors on vector- borne diseases like malaria.
Authors: Alexander K Rowe; Samantha Y Rowe; Robert W Snow; Eline L Korenromp; Joanna Rm Armstrong Schellenberg; Claudia Stein; Bernard L Nahlen; Jennifer Bryce; Robert E Black; Richard W Steketee Journal: Int J Epidemiol Date: 2006-02-28 Impact factor: 7.196
Authors: T A Abeku; S J De Vlas; G J J M Borsboom; A Tadege; Y Gebreyesus; H Gebreyohannes; D Alamirew; A Seifu; N J D Nagelkerke; J D F Habbema Journal: Parasitology Date: 2004-06 Impact factor: 3.234
Authors: Tamar E Carter; Seleshi Kebede Mekonnen; Karen Lopez; Victoria Bonnell; Lambodhar Damodaran; Abraham Aseffa; Daniel A Janies Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2018-01-01 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Mufaro Kanyangarara; Edmore Mamini; Sungano Mharakurwa; Shungu Munyati; Lovemore Gwanzura; Tamaki Kobayashi; Timothy Shields; Luke C Mullany; Susan Mutambu; Peter R Mason; Frank C Curriero; William J Moss Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2016-04-25 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Boris Makanga; Patrick Yangari; Nil Rahola; Virginie Rougeron; Eric Elguero; Larson Boundenga; Nancy Diamella Moukodoum; Alain Prince Okouga; Céline Arnathau; Patrick Durand; Eric Willaume; Diego Ayala; Didier Fontenille; Francisco J Ayala; François Renaud; Benjamin Ollomo; Franck Prugnolle; Christophe Paupy Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2016-04-11 Impact factor: 11.205