title: Men traveling away from home are more likely to bring malaria into high altitude villages, northwest Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Information about malaria risk factors at high altitudes is scanty. Understanding the risk factors that determine the risk of malaria transmission at high altitude villages is important to facilitate implementing sustainable malaria control and prevention programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  An unmatched case control study was conducted among patients seeking treatment at health centers in high altitude areas. Either microscopy or rapid diagnostic tests were used to confirm the presence of plasmodium species. A generalized linear model was used to identify the predictors of malaria transmission in high altitude villages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Males (AOR = 3.11, 95%CI: 2.28, 4.23), and those who traveled away from the home in the previous month (AOR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.56, 2.58) were strongly associated with presence of malaria in high altitude villages. Other significant factors, including agriculture in occupation (AOR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.93), plants used for fencing (AOR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.18, 2.52) and forests near the house (AOR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.15, 2.47), were found predictors for malaria in high altitude villages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Travel outside of their home was an important risk of malaria infections acquisition. Targeting males who frequently travel to malarious areas can reduce malaria transmission risks in high altitude areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Kassahun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alemu
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Alemayehu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Worku
authors.affiliation: Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Yemane
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Berhane
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Management, Environmental Health, and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Abera
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumie
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D008297:Male; D014195:Travel
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