The epidemiology of malaria in the Papua New Guinea highlands: 7. Southern Highlands Province
Papua New Guinea medical journal
;
: 35-47, 2011.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-631382
ABSTRACT
As the last part of a program to survey the extent of malaria transmission in the Papua New Guinea highlands, a series of rapid malaria surveys were conducted in 2003-2004 and 2005 in different parts of Southern Highlands Province. Malaria was found to be highly endemic in Lake Kutubu (prevalence rate (PR) 17-33%), moderate to highly endemic in Erave (PR 10-31%) and moderately endemic in low-lying parts (< 1500 m) of Poroma and Kagua (PR 12-17%), but was rare or absent elsewhere. A reported malaria epidemic prior to the 2004 surveys could be confirmed for the Poroma (PR 26%) but not for the lower Kagua area. In Kutubu/Erave Plasmodium falciparum was the most common cause of infection (42%), followed by P. vivax (39%) and P. malariae (16%). In other areas most infections were due to P. vivax (63%). Most infections were of low density (72% < 500/ microl) and not associated with febrile illness. Overall, malaria was only a significant source of febrile illness when prevalence rates rose above 10%, or in epidemics. However, concurrent parasitaemia led to a significant reduction in haemoglobin (Hb) level (1.2 g/dl, CI95 [1.1-1.4.], p < 0.001) and population mean Hb levels were strongly correlated with overall prevalence of malarial infections (r = -0.79, p < 0.001). Based on the survey results, areas of different malaria epidemiology are delineated and options for control in each area are discussed.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Papua New Guinea
/
Prevalence
/
Malaria, Vivax
/
Malaria, Falciparum
/
Endemic Diseases
/
Mosquito Nets
/
Epidemics
/
Geography, Medical
/
Malaria
/
Antimalarials
Type of study:
Prevalence study
/
Screening study
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
Papua New Guinea medical journal
Year:
2011
Type:
Article
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