title: Malaria infection and anemia prevalence in Zambia's Luangwa District: an area of near-universal insecticide-treated mosquito net coverage.
abstract: We examined the relationship between insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs), malaria parasite infection, and severe anemia prevalence in children in Luangwa District, Zambia, an area with near-universal ITN coverage, at the end of the 2008 and 2010 malaria transmission seasons. Malaria parasite infection prevalence among children < 5 years old was 9.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 8.0-11.4%) over both survey years. Prevalence of severe anemia among children 6-59 months old was 6.9% (95% CI = 5.4-8.5%) over both survey years. Within this context of near-universal ITN coverage, we were unable to detect a significant association between malaria parasite or severe anemia prevalence and ITNs (possession and use). In addition to maintaining universal ITN coverage, it will be essential for the malaria control program to achieve high ITN use and laboratory diagnosis and treatment of all fevers among all age groups to further reduce the malaria burden in this area.
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health and Development, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA. teisele@tulane.edu
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Eisele
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Hawela B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Moonga
authors.forename: Busiku
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hamainza
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Keating
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D057148:Insecticide-Treated Bednets; D016015:Logistic Models; D008288:Malaria / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D009032:Mosquito Control; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015024:Zambia / Q000453:epidemiology