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. 2023 Feb 1;8(2):96.
doi: 10.3390/tropicalmed8020096.

Civil Engineering and Malaria Risk: A Descriptive Study in a Rural Area of Cubal, Angola

Eva Gil Olivas  1   2   3   4 , Andreu Bruguera  5 , Arlete Nindia E Eugenio  2 , João José Nunda  2 , Armindo Tchiyanga  2 , Fernando Graça Ekavo  6 , Adriano Cambali  7 , Milagros Moreno  2 , Cristina Bocanegra García  1   2 , Maria Luísa Aznar  1   8 , Fernando Salvador  1   8 , Adrián Sánchez-Montalvá  1   8 , Israel Molina  1   8
Affiliations

Civil Engineering and Malaria Risk: A Descriptive Study in a Rural Area of Cubal, Angola

Eva Gil Olivas et al. Trop Med Infect Dis. .

Abstract

(1) Background: Angola is among the high-burden countries with malaria cases globally. After 2013, we suspected an increase in the number of malaria cases in Cubal (Angola), previously in decline. Our objective was to evaluate the incidence rate in Cubal, overall and by neighborhood, for 2014, 2015, and 2016. (2) Methods: A retrospective, observational study was performed in Cubal (Angola) from January 2014 to December 2016, including all patients with a microbiologically confirmed diagnosis, treated at Cubal's Hospitals for this period of time. The principal variables calculated were the incidence rates of 2014, 2015, and 2016 in Cubal (overall and by neighborhood). (3) Results: There were 3249 malaria cases. The incidence rates were 2.27, 10.73, and 12.40 cases per 1000 inhabitants in 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively. In the neighborhood, Hamavoko-Kasseke, there was a 10.73-fold increase in incidence during this period. Additionally, Hamavoko-Kasseke presents an anomalous distribution of malaria cases. (4) Conclusions: We observed an increase in the incidence of malaria in Cubal during the three-year study period. The case distribution was highly heterogeneous with hyperendemic areas, and we found a chronobiological association between the construction of a civil engineering project. This information could be useful for deciding which malaria control strategies must be implemented in this area.

Keywords: Angola; Benguela; civil engineering; incidence rate; malaria.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map of Angola and map of Cubal.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Map of Cubal with its neighborhoods. The fold change in the increase in incidence rate is represented. Cases per 1000 population between 2014 and 2016.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Absolute number of monthly cases of malaria (blue columns) and complicated malaria (orange columns) in Cubal, 2014–2016.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Absolute number of malaria cases (orange) and rainfall (blue columns) by month in Cubal, years 2014 and 2016.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Incidence rate of malaria (cases per 1000 population) in the Hamavoko-Kasseke neighborhood compared to other neighborhoods (January 2014–December 2016).
Figure 6
Figure 6
The new road with its drainage water collectors. Observe that in both figures, water is present despite being in the drought season.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. World Health Organization . Estrategia Técnica Mundial Contra la Malaria 2016–2030. World Health Organization; Geneva, Switzerland: 2015.
    1. World Health Organization . World Malaria Report 2022. World Health Organization; Geneva, Switzerland: 2022.
    1. World Health Organization . World Malaria Report 2021. World Health Organization; Geneva, Switzerland: 2021.
    1. Angola Ministério de Saúde Inquérito de Indicadores Múltiplos e de Saúde (IIMS) 2015–2016 de Angola. Relatório Final. [(accessed on 5 September 2022)]. Available online: https://dhsprogram.com/methodology/survery/survery-display-477.cfm.
    1. Angola Ministério de Saúde Malaria Indicator Survey 2011. Final Report. [(accessed on 5 September 2022)]. Available online: http://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/MIS11/MIS11.pdf.

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