ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Malaria is still one of the most important infectious diseases in the world. The disease also is a public health problem in south and southeast of Iran. This study programmed to show the correlation between regular malaria microscopy training and refresher training courses and control of malaria in Iran. METHODS: Three types of training courses were conducted in this programme including; five - day, ten - day and bimonthly training courses. Each of the training courses contained theoretical and practical sections and training impact was evaluated by practical examination and multiple-choice quizzes through pre and post tests. RESULTS: Distribution pattern of the participants in the training and refresher training courses showed that the most participants were from Sistan & Baluchistan and Hormozgan provinces where malaria is endemic and most cases of the infection come out from these malarious areas. A total of 695 identified individuals were participated in the training courses. A significant conversely correlation was found between conducting malaria microscopy training courses and annual malaria cases in Iran. CONCLUSION: Conducting a suitable programme for malaria microscopy training and refresher training plays an important role in the control of malaria in endemic areas. Obviously, the decrease of malaria cases in Iran has been achieved due to some activities that malaria diagnosis training was one of them.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was that the past five years data were collected to analyze the situation of malaria and health facilities in this area for better understanding malaria problem and to find solutions. METHODS: In this retrospective study data of the last 5 years were obtained from health center of Bandar Abbas, published papers and reports, weather forecasting organization of the city and annual reports of Hormozgan official authorities. An excel databank was created and analysis was conducted using this software. RESULTS: According to the national health system, Bandar Abbas also has referral net work system from periphery to the district health center. The maximum and minimum Annual Parasitic Index (API) were observed in 2005 (1.31) and 2008 (0.17), respectively. The prevalence of cases in villages was more than city, except for 2008. More than 97.6% of indigenous malaria cases were caused by Plasmodium vivax, although P. falciparum, P. ovale and mix infection were also reported. Anopheles stephensi, An. dthali and An. fluviatilis are the main malaria vectors in rural area, while only the first species is distributed in the urban area. CONCLUSION: According to results and many variables including API, Bandar Abbas is divided in two strata. From the situation analysis of Bandar Abbas it is postulated that the main activities of this district could be accuracy of data, and malaria vector control.
