title: Malaria epidemiology in the Ahafo area of Ghana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains endemic in sub-Saharan Africa including Ghana. The epidemiology of malaria in special areas, such as mining areas needs to be monitored and controlled. Newmont Ghana Gold Limited is conducting mining activities in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana that may have an impact on the diseases such as malaria in the mining area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prior to the start of mining activities, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2006/2007 to determine malaria epidemiology, including malaria parasitaemia and anaemia among children < 5 years and monthly malaria transmission in a mining area of Ghana.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1,671 households with a child less than five years were selected. About 50% of the household heads were males. The prevalence of any malaria parasitaemia was 22.8% (95% CI 20.8-24.9). Plasmodium falciparum represented 98.1% (95% CI 96.2-99.2) of parasitaemia. The geometric mean P. falciparum asexual parasite count was 1,602 (95% CI 1,140-2,252) and 1,195 (95% CI 985-1,449) among children < 24 months and ≥ 24 months respectively. Health insurance membership (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.45-0.80, p = 0.001) and the least poor (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.37-0.90, p = 0.001) were protected against malaria parasitaemia. The prevalence of anaemia was high among children < 24 months compared to children ≥ 24 months (44.1% (95% CI 40.0-48.3) and 23.8% (95% CI 21.2-26.5) respectively. About 69% (95% CI 66.3-70.9) of households own at least one ITN. The highest EIRs were record in May 2007 (669 ib/p/m) and June 2007 (826 ib/p/m). The EIR of Anopheles gambiae were generally higher than Anopheles funestus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The baseline malaria epidemiology suggests a high malaria transmission in the mining area prior to the start of mining activities. Efforts at controlling malaria in this mining area have been intensified but could be enhanced with increased resources and partnerships between the government and the private sector.
authors.affiliation: Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 200, Kintampo, Ghana. kwakupoku.asante@kintampo-hrc.org
authors.forename: Kwaku P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Asante
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zandoh
authors.forename: Dominic B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Dery
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adjei
authors.forename: Yaw
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Antwi-Dadzie
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adjuik
authors.forename: Kofi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tchum
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dosoo
authors.forename: Seeba
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amenga-Etego
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mensah
authors.forename: Kwabena B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Owusu-Sekyere
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Krieger
authors.forename: Seth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Owusu-Agyei
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult