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Asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum malaria prevalence among adolescents and adults in Malawi, 2015–2016
Authors: Hillary M. Topazian, Austin Gumbo, Sydney Puerto-Meredith, Ruth Njiko, Alexis Mwanza, Michael Kayange, David Mwalilino, Bernard Mvula, Gerald Tegha, Tisungane Mvalo, Jessie K. Edwards, Michael Emch, Audrey Pettifor, Jennifer S. Smith, Irving Hoffman, Steven R. Meshnick, and Jonathan J. Juliano
Source: Scientific Reports, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-75261-9
Topic(s): Education
Environmental health
Malaria
Rural-urban differentials
Wealth Index
Country: Africa
  Malawi
Published: OCT 2020
Abstract: Malaria remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Malawi, with an estimated 18–19% prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum in children 2–10 years in 2015–2016. While children report the highest rates of clinical disease, adults are thought to be an important reservoir to sustained transmission due to persistent asymptomatic infection. The 2015–2016 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey was a nationally representative household survey which collected dried blood spots from 15,125 asymptomatic individuals ages 15–54 between October 2015 and February 2016. We performed quantitative polymerase chain reaction on 7,393 samples, detecting an overall P. falciparum prevalence of 31.1% (SE = 1.1). Most infections (55.6%) had parasitemias = 10 parasites/µL. While 66.2% of individuals lived in a household that owned a bed net, only 36.6% reported sleeping under a long-lasting insecticide-treated net (LLIN) the previous night. Protective factors included urbanicity, greater wealth, higher education, and lower environmental temperatures. Living in a household with a bed net (prevalence difference 0.02, 95% CI - 0.02 to 0.05) and sleeping under an LLIN (0.01; - 0.02 to 0.04) were not protective against infection. Our findings demonstrate a higher parasite prevalence in adults than published estimates among children. Understanding the prevalence and distribution of asymptomatic infection is essential for targeted interventions.
Web: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-75261-9