Atta Muhammad Asif1, Muhammad Ramzan Tahir2, Irshad Ahmad Arshad1. 1. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad 44310, Pakistan. 2. Department of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal H2L4C5, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We assessed the prevalence of malarial fever and its association with demographic and socioeconomic factors in children <5 years of age. METHODS: Using the data of Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS), the socioeconomic condition (SEC) was assessed by using a household wealth index as a proxy indicator, generated through principal component analysis. Two-stage sampling was used for selection of households, and multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: The PDHS contains 10 935 children <5 years of age with valid information about malaria fever. In total, 36% (3930) children have malaria 2 weeks before the survey. A decreasing trend in prevalence of malaria fever was found with increasing SEC. Compared with SEC Quintile V, children of SEC Quintile I were more likely to get fever [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.40 (1.15-1.69)] and of SEC Quintile II [AOR = 1.23 (1.03-1.45)]. CONCLUSION: SEC has a significant impact on the prevalence of malaria fever in the context of different regions in Pakistan.
OBJECTIVE: We assessed the prevalence of malarial fever and its association with demographic and socioeconomic factors in children <5 years of age. METHODS: Using the data of Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS), the socioeconomic condition (SEC) was assessed by using a household wealth index as a proxy indicator, generated through principal component analysis. Two-stage sampling was used for selection of households, and multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: The PDHS contains 10 935 children <5 years of age with valid information about malaria fever. In total, 36% (3930) children have malaria 2 weeks before the survey. A decreasing trend in prevalence of malaria fever was found with increasing SEC. Compared with SEC Quintile V, children of SEC Quintile I were more likely to get fever [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.40 (1.15-1.69)] and of SEC Quintile II [AOR = 1.23 (1.03-1.45)]. CONCLUSION: SEC has a significant impact on the prevalence of malaria fever in the context of different regions in Pakistan.