Predictors of malaria among Malaysian aborigines.
The Asia-Pacific region has at least 50% of its population at risk for malaria. In Malaysia, indigenous malaria is largely concentrated among the Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in an Orang Asli community in the district of Raub, Pahang, to determine the predictors of malaria. Age, seldom/never wearing protective clothing while in the jungle, going out at night, ever staying in another village, and living in bamboo-walled homes were found to be associated with malaria (crude odds ratio = 1.8-4.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1-9.1) After adjusting for confounding, major predictors of malaria were age < or =12 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.3;95% CI = 2.2-8.4),), never/seldom wearing protective clothing while in the jungle (aOR = 3.8; 95% CI = 1.8-8.0), and going out at night (aOR = 2.5; 95% CI = 1.4-4.8). The findings lend support for intensifying behaviour modification in this population.
Kaur
Gurpreet
G
Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health, Jalan Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. drpreet@yahoo.com
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D044466:Asian People; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008288:Malaria / Q000208:ethnology*; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors