Investigation of Malaria Outbreak in Sagambe Area, Mutasa District, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The burden of Malaria remains a global concern, killing millions of people annually, yet it is a preventable and curable disease.. Malaria, a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite, leads to fever, chills, and flu-like symptoms, and can be fatal if untreated. In Zimbabwe, the malaria incidence rate decreased from 39 cases per 1,000 people in 2014 to 25 per 1,000 in 2015, a 36% reduction. A study in Sagambe, Mutasa District aimed to identify risk factors for contracting malaria. Using a 1:1 unmatched case-control study, 88 cases and 88 controls were examined. Data were collected via interviewer-administered questionnaires for cases and controls, and self-administered questionnaires for key informants. Evening outdoor activity significantly increased the risk of malaria (AOR = 9.71, 95% CI 1.97-47.85). Other risk factors included sex (p = 0.023), not owning a mosquito net (OR = 0.26, 95% CI 0.14-0.49), not sleeping under a net the previous night (OR = 0.14, 95% CI 0.07-0.35), not closing windows after sunset (OR = 4.39, 95% CI 1.79-11.11), and not wearing long sleeves outdoors (OR = 0.08, 95% CI 0.01-0.56). The outbreak was linked to evening outdoor activities. Participants had high knowledge of malaria transmission but limited awareness of symptoms beyond headache and general body weakness. The study suggests enhancing health education campaigns in Sagambe.