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FACTORS CAUSING PREVALENCE OF MALARIA AMONG ANTENATAL CARE MOTHERS UGANDA: A CASE OF KAMULI HOSPITAL

CHAPTER ONE:

1.0 Introduction

This chapter shall deal with the background of the study, statement of the problem, the objectives of the study, research questions, study scope of the study and significance of the study.

1.1 Background

Malaria is one of the most ubiquitous diseases known there and It has probably afflicted humans throughout our evolutionary history, although the first historical reports of symptoms that match those of malaria date back to the ancient Egyptians (around 1550 B.C.) and the ancient Greeks (around 413 B.C.) (Sato, 2021).

Malaria is usually classified as asymptomatic, uncomplicated or severe, Asymptomatic malaria can be caused by all Plasmodium species; the patient has circulating parasites but no symptoms (Campos, 2021), Uncomplicated malaria can be caused by all Plasmodium species (Vlok, 2021). Symptoms generally occur 7-10 days after the initial mosquito bite. Symptoms are non-specific and can include fever, moderate to severe shaking chills, profuse sweating, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and anaemia, with no clinical or laboratory findings of severe organ dysfunction (Arisco,  Peterka,& Castro, 2021). 

Globally 3.2 billion people remain at risk of malaria and nearly one million malaria deaths occur each year, mostly in children under five years of age in sub-Saharan Africa. The greatest burden of malaria, by far, remains in the heartland of Africa, characterized by large contiguous areas of high transmission, low coverage of control interventions, and limited infrastructure to monitor disease trends (Abiodun et al., 2020). Besides neonatal-related causes, malaria is the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Africa, and accounts for 21-26% of all under-five mortality in Uganda (Afolabi et al., 2022). Many of these deaths occur at home due to poor access to health care, inappropriate or delayed care seeking and inadequate quality of health services hence need to take analysis the levels of malaria prevalence in the home with children below 15 years (Kwenti et al., 2018),  there were 241 million cases of malaria in 2020. And in that same year, there were over 620,000 malaria-related deaths.

The climate in Uganda allows stable, year round malaria transmission with relatively little seasonal variability in most areas. Malaria is highly endemic in the country affecting approximately 90% of the 34 million population. Indeed, some of the highest recorded infective mosquito bites per person year) in the world have been seen in Uganda, including rates of 1586 in Apac District and 562 in Tororo District (Okello et al., 2006) measured in 2001–02. The Uganda MOH estimates that the entomological inoculation rates (EIR)  is >100 in 70%, 10–100 in 20%, and <10 in 10% of the country (Uganda Bureau of Statistics, 2010). However, these estimates are based on little data, as few entomological surveys have been carried out in the country. Transmission is unstable and epidemic-prone in extreme southwestern areas and in the vicinity of the Rwenzori Mountains in the west and Mt. Elgon in the east, all areas extending above 1,800 meters in altitude.

1.2 Statement of the problem.

The government of Uganda in conjunction with other non-government organizations have put a lot of effort to curb the malaria infection in children, adults and pregnant women in Uganda, but malaria still claims a lot of morbidity with 40 percent comparison to other diseases. The prevalence of these polymorphisms has consistently measured well above 50% across Uganda (Francis et al., 2006).  There were an estimated 438000 deaths, 90% from Africa, 7% from South Eastern Asia region and 2% from Eastern Mediterranean region. Of these, 306000 deaths have occurred in children aged under 5 years.(WMR 2015) In comparison, 198 million infections and 584 000 deaths were estimated in 2013.(WMR 2014) More than 30000 cases of malaria are reported annually among travelers from developed world visiting malarious areas.(Leder et al., 2010).

With that there is need to take analysis of the extent of this malaria prevalence to date since the perennially prevalent malaria, therefore, remains an ever existing danger for humanity, in every part of the globe. It is against this Background that this study intends to investigate into analysis of prevalence of malaria among first antenatal care mothers Uganda, A Case of Kamuli Hospital

1.3   Objectives of the Study

1.3.1   General Objective:

The general objective of the study is to analyze of prevalence of malaria among first antenatal care mothers Uganda: a case of Kamuli Hospital.

1.3.2 Specific Objectives of the Study

1. To examine community related factors for malaria prevalence among antenatal mothers. 
2. To analyze health related factors for malaria prevalence among antenatal mothers.
3. To determine Individual factors associated with malaria prevalence among antenatal mothers.

1.4 Research Questions 

1. What are the community related factors for malaria prevalence among antenatal mothers? 
2. What are the health related factors for malaria prevalence among antenatal mothers?
3. What are the Individual factors associated with malaria prevalence among antenatal mothers?

CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction

This chapter presents the research methods that will be used to carry out the study. 

3.2 Research Design

The study will adopt a cross-sectional survey research design.

3.3 Study Population

The total population will specifically the employees of Kamuli   hospital and patients who will be present at the time of research.

3.4 Determination of the sample size

Using Krejcie and Morgan’s (1970) table for sample size determination approach, a sample size of 36 respondents will be selected from the total population of 40 employees and patients. 

3.5 Sampling techniques and procedure

The study will use Purposive sampling technique because it saves time and also enables the researcher to get information from the right people.

3.6 Data collection methods

The section presents data collection methods which include questionnaire survey, interview and documentary review.

3.6.1 Questionnaire Survey

Questionnaire Survey method will be used to obtain the opinion of the respondents regarding the topic under study. 

3.6.2 Interview

Face-to-face interview is a data collection method where the interviewer directly communicates with the respondent in accordance with the prepared questionnaire (Polak & Green, 2015). 

3.7 Data collection instruments

For each deployed data collection method, there is a corresponding data collection instrument that will be used. The study will use, Questionnaire Guides, Interview Guide and Document review checklist as described in the sub-sections below.

3.8 Quantitative Data Analysis

Data processing will be done by entering the data into a statistics package for social sciences (SPSS) version 24.0 in line with the research questions.