ABSTRACT
During February and March 1995, out-patients attending health clinics and the Central Hospital in East Honiara, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, were surveyed with the aim of determining factors influencing the differing rates of malaria, the proportion of transmission occurring within the town, and the reasons for presentation. Three hundred and nine adult patients, who were sick and had blood smears taken, were asked about their general knowledge of malaria transmission. Of those interviewed, 120 were visited at their home in East Honiara, to determine variables. EpiInfo 5.1 was used in analysis. A history of fever alone was not a good indicator of parasitemia. Most precautions, including bed nets, window screens and personal precautions were of little benefit. Significant protection was afforded individuals and families with indoor kitchens. Patients not completing their antimalarial treatment fared worse in terms of parasitemia and malaria history. Most malaria/parasitemia was indigenous to Honiara. Many patients had a good knowledge of malaria transmission and mosquitos, but this did not translate into a lower rate of parasitemia or malaria.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Environment , Female , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Malaria/epidemiology , Male , Melanesia/epidemiology , Mosquito Control/methods , Population Surveillance , Surveys and Questionnaires , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Adult and larval specimens of anopheline mosquitos were collected throughout eastern Honiara during a study into risk factors for malaria illness in adults. Species identification was by morphology, DNA probes and by PCR. Only Anopheles farauti s.s. were identified from part-night landing catches carried out from 1900 to 2200 hours. Most mosquitos attracted to humans were culicines. The majority of anophelines (85%) were captured between 1900 and 2000 hours. An. farauti s.s. larvae were most common but one An. farauti No. 7, and ten An. punctulatus larvae were also collected.
Subject(s)
Adult , Animals , Anopheles/classification , DNA Probes , Feeding Behavior , Humans , Insect Vectors/classification , Malaria/epidemiology , Melanesia/epidemiology , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Risk Factors , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Los resultados de una encuesta con 7,342 muestras de sangur de 13 paises y territorios de las Americas indican una elevada prevalencia de los anticuerpos contra el virus A de la hepatitis en esa Region. Los resultados senalan tambien una correlacion significativa entre la ausencia de dichos anticuerpos y la ausencia de marcadores indicativos de infeccion por el virus B de la hepatitis