A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY ON MALIGNANT TERTIAN MALARIA AMONG CHILDREN BELOW FIVE YEARS ATTENDING THE OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT LABORATORY AT JINJA REGIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL.

Abstract

Background: 

World Health Organisation estimates that 229 million new cases of Malignant Tertian Malaria in 2019 in the world. 3.3 billion people in tropical regions and Uganda there is still a high mortality rate, especially in children below five years.

Purpose of the study: The study was to determine the prevalence of Malignant Tertian Malaria among children below five years at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital.

Methodology:

A descriptive cross-sectional study was used and data was obtained from 146 respondents using an interviewer-administered questionnaire diagnosed, described, analyzed, and presented information on tables and figures using Microsoft Excel.

Results: 

The prevalence of MTM was 48.6% among children below five years. The most common socio-economic factor was household structure with a prevalence of 56.33% and 43.66% for respondents who were staying in completed houses and those whose houses were not in good condition respectively. The knowledge of caretakers about MTM was inadequate most caretakers knew about MTM with a prevalence of 63.38%.

Conclusion: 

Although interventions for the management of MTM were in place, a prevalence of 48.6% was still high and demands for additional efforts from the health workers and the Ministry of Health to lower the heavy disease burden.

Recommendation:

The health workers should offer health education about MTM to the patients attending the hospital and emphasis on early diagnosis and treatment of MTM infections should be prioritized.