Risk Factors for Plasmodium falciparum Recurrence in Artemether Lumefantrine Treated Population from Bushenyi District, Uganda
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Date
2022
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background:
Malaria remains a major public health problem. In 2019, it was reported that Uganda accounts for 5% of the total global cases of malaria-related deaths, following Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Various risk factors may be responsible for poor treatment outcomes. Thus, the main aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for Plasmodium falciparum recurrence in an Artemether-lumefantrine-treated population from Bushenyi district, Uganda.
Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in four selected health centers of Bushenyi district, Uganda, using questionnaires, direct observations, and laboratory-based studies. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 23 windows) for descriptive statistics. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between Plasmodium falciparum recurrence and associated risk factors.
Results: Statistically independent predictor risk factors for Plasmodium falciparum recurrence at p<0.05 were: Previous diagnosis used before the current artemether-lumefantrine (AL) treatment (OR=11.864; 95% CI: 1.477-95.280; p=0.020), Sleeping with animals (OR=0.193; 95% CI: 0.075-0.894; p=0.032), Age (OR=1.435; 95% CI: 0.082-0.975; p=0.040), Travelling outside the study area (OR=2.324; 95% CI: 0.050-0.699; p=0.012), Weight (OR=1.543; 95% CI: 0.085-0.987; p=0.002), and Gametocytes on day 0 (OR=0.284; 95% CI: 0.062-0.735; p=0.032).
Conclusions: Monitoring the transmission potentiality after Artemisinin combined therapies (ACTs) treatment is vital in the fight against malaria infection.
Keywords: Risk factors; Plasmodium falciparum; recurrence; Uganda.