Changes in Malaria Indices in an Ethiopian Health Centre: A Five Year Retrospective Analysis

Background: Malaria affects the health and wealth of individuals, as well as nations. In Ethiopia, malaria is identified as both a disease of poverty and a cause of poverty. Objectives: A retrospective analysis was conducted to investigate the changes in malaria indices at the Serbo Health Center, Ethiopia. Materials and Methods: Based on existing blood smear examination data. The original case records were carefully reviewed, analyzed and interpreted. Results: Among the total of 51610 blood smear examinations, 26602 were found to be positive and contributed to 51.5% of the diagnostic yield. All of the 51610 cases were treated at the Serbo Health Center. Males constituted a total of 56.1% participants in this study (14934/26602 cases) and they were found to be more prone to having a positive malaria smear. Chi-square analysis showed a statistically significant association between male patients and the incidence of malaria (P = 0.0001; χ2 = 212.5; df = 4). Plasmodium falciparum contributes to about 62.4% of malaria cases followed by P vivax (37.3%). Conclusions: There is an urgent need for active health education campaigns and the administration of front-line vector control interventions such as the consistent deployment of insecticide-treated bed-nets and indoor residual spraying to interrupt disease transmission and an eventual reduction in the number of malaria cases.