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. 2023 Jan 5;22(1):3.
doi: 10.1186/s12936-022-04415-z.

Malaria among children under 10 years in 4 endemic health areas in Kisantu Health Zone: epidemiology and transmission

Gillon Ilombe  1   2   3 , Junior Rika Matangila  4 , Aimee Lulebo  5 , Paulin Mutombo  5 , Sylvie Linsuke  6   7 , Vivi Maketa  4 , Baby Mabanzila  4 , Francis Wat'senga  8 , Wim Van Bortel  9 , Agossa Fiacre  10 , Seth R Irish  11 , Pascal Lutumba  4 , Jean-Pierre Van Geertruyden  6
Affiliations

Malaria among children under 10 years in 4 endemic health areas in Kisantu Health Zone: epidemiology and transmission

Gillon Ilombe et al. Malar J. .

Abstract

Background: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the second most malaria-affected country in the world with 21,608,681 cases reported in 2019. The Kongo Central (KC) Province has a malaria annual incidence of 163 cases/per 1000 inhabitants which are close to the national average of 153.4/1000. However, the malaria prevalence varies both between and within health zones in this province. The main objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology and transmission of malaria among children aged 0 to 10 years in the 4 highest endemic health areas in Kisantu Health Zone (HZ) of KC in DRC.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October to November 2017 using multi-stage sampling. A total of 30 villages in 4 health areas in Kisantu HZ were randomly selected. The prevalence of malaria was measured using a thick blood smear (TBS) and known predictors and associated outcomes were assessed. Data are described and association determinants of malaria infection were analysed.

Results: A total of 1790 children between 0 and 10 years were included in 30 villages in 4 health areas of Kisantu HZ. The overall prevalence in the study area according to the TBS was 14.8% (95% CI: 13.8-16.6; range: 0-53). The mean sporozoite rate in the study area was 4.3% (95% CI: 2.6-6.6). The determination of kdr-west resistance alleles showed the presence of both L1014S and L1014F with 14.6% heterozygous L1014S/L1014F, 84.4% homozygous 1014F, and 1% homozygous 1014S. The risk factors associated with malaria infection were ground or wooden floors aOR: 15.8 (95% CI: 8.6-29.2), a moderate or severe underweight: 1.5 (1.1-2.3) and to be overweight: 1.9 (95% CI: 1.3-2.7).

Conclusion: Malaria prevalence differed between villages and health areas within the same health zone. The control strategy activities must be oriented by the variety in the prevalence and transmission of malaria in different areas. The policy against malaria regarding long-lasting insecticidal nets should be based on the evidence of metabolic resistance.

Keywords: Democratic Republic of the Congo; Determinants; Kisantu; Malaria infection.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Design illustrating the entomological and epidemiological baseline data collection Kisantu 2018
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Assessment of Anopheles funestus and An. gambiae s.l. activity based on the human landing collection, Kisantu 2018
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Local variation of malaria infection prevalence by villages in the 4 areas in Kisantu Health Zone, Kongo-Central Province
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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