Assessing the Malaria burden and Community Response to the Malaria Control and Management Programs in Omoro District, Northern Uganda

Abstract

Abstract Background The government of Uganda have implemented several malaria controls programs like Indoor Residual Spraying, use of Insecticide Treated Nets, tests and treat strategy, IPT for pregnant women, introduction of Village Health Teams to manage fevers and radio and TV education programs on malaria prevention and control. However, malaria is still the leading cause of hospitalization and death in our health systems. This study explored the malaria burden and community response to government malaria control programs in Omoro district.Method This retrospective and perspective study involved 576 patient results from Health facilities data from HCIIIs of Odek, Bobi, Lapainat, Lalogi HCIV and 288 study participants from Lutori and Lagude cells, Atyang A and Lagwaya villages who consented to answer the pre-tested questionnaire. The health facilities were purposively selected for malaria confirmed cases with microscopy and mRDTs, while households were simple randomly selected.Results The prevalence of malaria in Omoro district in 2018 and 2019 was at 69.46% and 93%, respectively. And the average number of malaria attacks an individual gets in district obtained from the health facility 3 and community data was 3. Among the local remedies used was Bidens pilosa from leave extracts. The use of oloevera, carica papaya, mango roots and bark, lemon grass leaves, bitter leaf, aloevera, cotton leaves were used for treatment and prevention of malaria. The obtained chi-square value P = 0.001, 0.000, 0.000, 0.001 denotes that there was significant association of malaria attacks between household size, household head, age, and occupation, respectively.Conclusion The average combined health facility and community number of malaria attacks an individual gets in Omoro district is 3 times a year with malaria prevalence of 69.46% and 93% in 2018 and 2019, respectively. The number of people who use local herbal herbs for malaria treatment and management were few, though these had less number of malaria attacks. Response to government malaria control programs was limited by high poverty level in the community.