Rapid Increase in Ownership and Use of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets and Decrease in Prevalence of Malaria in Three Regional States of Ethiopia (2006-2007)

Following recent large scale-up of malaria control interventions in Ethiopia; this study aimed to compare ownership and use of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN); and the change in malaria prevalence using two population-based household surveys in three regions of the country. Each survey used multistage cluster random sampling with 25 households per cluster. Household net ownership tripled from 19.6in 2006 to 68.4in 2007; with mean LLIN per household increasing from 0.3 to 1.2. Net use overall more than doubled from 15.3to 34.5; but in households owning LLIN; use declined from 71.7to 48.3. Parasitemia declined from 4.1to 0.4. Large scale-up of net ownership over a short period of time was possible. However; a large increase in net ownership was not necessarily mirrored directly by increased net use. Better targeting of nets to malaria-risk areas and sustained behavioural change communication are needed to increase and maintain net use

Prevalence of Giardiasis and Cryptosporidiosis among Children in Relation to Water Sources in Selected Village of Pawi Special District in Benishangul-Gumuz Region; Northwestern Ethiopia

"Introduction: Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum are implicated in many waterborne disease outbreaks in different parts of the world. Objective: This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of these two parasites among children below 14 years old that drink water from different sources. Methods: Single stool specimens were collected from a total of 384 children in Almu; K2V24; and K2V23/24 villages; Pawi Special District; northwestern Ethiopia; and microscopically examined for Giardia cyst/trophozoites and Cryptosporidium oocysts. For identification of Cryptosporidium parvum the modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining method was used. Giardia lamblia was detected using direct microscopy based on wet mount and formalin-ether concentration techniques. Results: Out of the 384 children examined; 102 (26.6) and 31 (8.1) were found positive for G. lamblia and C .parvum infection; respectively. Prevalence of giardiasis in female children was significantly higher than in the males. However; no significant association was observed for infection of cryptosporidiosis between the two sexes. G.lamblia and C. parvum infection prevalence was not significantly different among the different age groups. On the other hand; the prevalence of G. lamblia and C. parvum was associated with the source of drinking water with more cases of giardiasis detected in study participants using water from unprotected water sources than those using the ""protected"" water. Contrary to this; more cases of cryptosporidiosis were detected in those using ""protected"" water sources. Conclusion: From the findings of the study one can conclude that providing well protected and treated drinking water should be considered a priority for reducing the existing high prevalence of giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis in the study area. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2010;24(3):205-213]"