Burden and seasonal distribution of malaria in Ziquala district, Northeast Ethiopia: a 5-year multi-centre retrospective study

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to determine the 5-year trend of malaria positivity rate in Ziquala district, Northeast Ethiopia. METHODS: Review of blood film reports from health institutions’ laboratory record books using predesigned checklists was done as part of an institution-based retrospective study to assess the 5-year (2016/2017–2020/2021) trend of malaria. To display data and analyse patterns in the trend of malaria over the course of years, months and seasons, descriptive statistics were used. The results of the data analysis were displayed in tables and figures using SPSS V.26.0. P values under 0.05 were considered as statistically significant for all comparisons. RESULTS: A total of 46 365 blood films from malaria suspected individuals were diagnosed using microscopy over the last 5 years. Of the diagnosed individuals, 14 429 (31.1%) were confirmed positive for Plasmodium infection. Plasmodium falciparum (59.7%) and Plasmodium vivax (37.0%) were the dominant species. The positivity rate of mixed infection (P. falciparum and P. vivax) was 3.3%. The maximum (3598; 29.6%) and minimum (2085; 29.1%) number of cases were reported in 2019/2020 and 2020/2021, respectively. Of the total cases, 9206 (63.8%) were in males. Moreover, the highest malaria positivity rate was observed in the age group of 15–45 (4040; 28.0%). Among the six health facilities, Ziquala district hospital had the highest malaria positivity rate (35.8%), followed by Tsitsika health centre (27.3%) and Mishra health centre (14.2%). CONCLUSION: With P. falciparum being the most common species, malaria remains a severe public health threat in the district. Therefore, the district health office and other concerned bodies should strengthen and implement evidence-based malaria prevention and control measures.