The Occurrence and Distribution of Plasmodium Species in Woyn Wuha Health Center, Ethiopia

Abstract

Plasmodium species is an important causative agent of malaria in the world including Ethiopia, and the majority of people were at risk of infection. The study’s general objective was to determine the occurrence and distribution of Plasmodium species in the study area through microscopic examination of blood films. A cross-sectional study was carried out in the study sites from September 2016 to February 2017. Out of 512 participants, 32 (6.25%) were malaria positive. Of these, 17 (53.12%, 95% CI: 0.358, 0.704) were P. vivax, 12 (37.5%, 95% CI: 0.207, 0.543) P. falciparum, and 3 (9.375%, 95% CI: -0.007, 0.195) mixed out of the total positive case. The occurrence of parasites was greater in rural villages (59.375%) than in urban villages (40.625%) but not significant ( ${\chi }^2=1.2917$ , $df=1$ , $p=0.2557$ ). More males were infected compared to females but not significant ( ${\chi }^2=0.0005665$ , $df=1$ , $p=0.981$ ). The monthly distribution of Plasmodium species was higher in September and October but there was no significant variation in each month ( ${\chi }^2=10.142$ , $p=0.4281$ ). Due to the high occurrence of Plasmodium vivax in the study area, the result contrasts with the national figure of the Plasmodium species report. The result of the current study may be useful to those individuals who work in Plasmodium species control and prevention program.