Description
Background and objectives: The surge in malaria cases and deaths in recent years, particularly in Africa, despite the widespread implementation of malaria-control measures could be due to inefficiencies in malaria control and prevention measures in malaria-endemic communities. In this context, this study provides the malaria situation report among children in three Municipalities in Northern Ghana, where Seasonal Malaria Chemotherapy (SMC) is implemented by GHS.
Methods: A cross-sectional household survey was carried out to assess the malaria knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) and malaria prevalence in 394 households in 13 rural communities in the Tolon, Kumbugu, and Nanton Municipalities, Northern Region, Ghana. This was followed by screening for P. falciparum infection with anti-HRP2 RDT and PCR among children 1-17 years in the households. Plasma levels of IgG specific for crude P. falciparum antigen (3D7) and four recombinant malaria antigens (CSP, GLURP, MSP3, and Pfs230) were assessed by ELISA.
Results and discussion: The P. falciparum infection rate and frequency of malaria were high in the study areas with significant age-dependent and inter-community differences, which were reflected by differences in plasma levels of P. falciparum-specific IgG. Malaria preventive and treatment practices were sub-optimal, possibly compounded by waning adherence to SMC in the area.
Conclusions: P. falciparum infection and malaria are still common in the studied communities, indicating that preventive and control measures against the disease in the region remain inadequate. Efforts to ensure high SMC compliance and to improve preventative and treatment practices thus seem cost-beneficial “low-hanging fruits” in the fight against malaria in the Northern Region of Ghana.
Keywords: Seasonal malaria chemotherapy (SMC), Plasmodium falciparum, malaria, recombinant malaria antigens, naturally acquired immunity, crude antigens, Northern Ghana.
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