Prevalence and risk factors associated with infections caused by Plasmodium parasites at micro-geographic level in three villages of Muheza district in Tanga region, north-eastern Tanzania
Cross-sectional survey assessed malaria prevalence and risk factors in three villages, indicating micro-geographic variability.
Key Points
The study found a malaria prevalence of 19.2% by microscopy and 24.3% by RDTs among surveyed individuals.
Prevalence was significantly higher in school children aged 5 to < 15 years, reaching 27.3% by microscopy.
Households with closed eaves showed lower infection risks, highlighting the importance of housing conditions in malaria transmission.
Significant variations in prevalence among the three nearby villages suggest a need for targeted malaria interventions based on geographic risk factors.