Study on the risk factors of malaria infection among people has regular forest activity in one province central Vietnam

ABSTRACT

The authors studied epidemiology of forest malaria through a cross-sectional community based study in one province, central Vietnam. A total of 4036 individuals were investigated in 2004. Results: the prevalence of antibodies to P.falciparum was constantly about 20.5% and the prevalence rate of malaria parasite was 13.3%. Multivariate analysis showed that the regular forest activity was the main risk factor for malaria infection (OR = 5.51, p< 0.005). The population- attributable fraction for regular forest activity was estimated to be 99.5%. The results confirmed the major role played by forest activity on the malaria burden in this area and provide the basic for targeting control activities to forest worker. New interventions based on insecticide-treated materials need to urgently evaluated like bed nets, hammocks...