Marked increase in child survival after four years of intensive malaria control.
In malaria-endemic countries in Africa, a large proportion of child deaths are directly or indirectly attributable to infection with Plasmodium falciparum. Four years after high coverage, multiple malaria control interventions were introduced on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, changes in infection with malarial parasites, anemia, and fever history in children were estimated and assessed in relation to changes in all-cause under-5 mortality. There were reductions in prevalence of infection (odds ratio [OR] = 0.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.2-0.46), anemia (OR = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.07-0.18), and reported fevers (OR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.22-0.76) in children. Under-5 mortality fell from 152 per 1,000 births (95% CI = 122-186) to 55 per 1,000 (95% CI = 38-77; hazard ratio = 0.34 [95% CI = 0.23-0.49]). Effective malaria control measures can dramatically increase child survival and play a key role in achieving millennium development goals.
Kleinschmidt
Immo
I
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Medical Care Development International, Silver Spring, Maryland. Immo.Kleinschmidt@lshtm.ac.uk
Schwabe
Christopher
C
Benavente
Luis
L
Torrez
Miguel
M
Ridl
Frances C
FC
Segura
Jose Luis
JL
Ehmer
Paul
P
Nchama
Gloria Nseng
GN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016703:Equatorial Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry / Q000191:economics; D007306:Insecticides; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D010578:Petroleum / Q000191:economics; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
D000962:Antimalarials; D007306:Insecticides; D010578:Petroleum