Reduction in malaria prevalence and increase in malaria awareness in endemic districts of Bangladesh.
Malaria is endemic in 13 districts of Bangladesh. A baseline malaria prevalence survey across the endemic districts of Bangladesh was conducted in 2007, when the prevalence was reported around 39.7 per 1000 population. After two rounds of Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM)-funded intervention by the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) and a BRAC-led NGO consortium, a follow-up survey was conducted across the malaria-endemic districts of Bangladesh to measure the change in prevalence rate and in people's knowledge of malaria.



The survey was carried out from August to November 2013 in 70 upazilas (sub-districts) of 13 malaria-endemic districts of Bangladesh, following the same multi-stage cluster sampling design and the same number of households enrolled during the baseline prevalence survey in 2007, to collect 9750 randomly selected blood samples. For on-the-spot diagnosis of malaria, a rapid diagnostic test was used. The household head or eldest person available was interviewed using a pre-coded structured questionnaire to collect data on the knowledge and awareness of malaria in the household.



Based on a weighted calculation, the overall malaria prevalence was found to be 1.41 per 1000 population. The proportion of Plasmodium falciparum mono-infection was 77.78% while both Plasmodium vivax mono-infection and mixed infection of the two species were found to be 11.11%. Bandarban had the highest prevalence (6.67 per 1000 population). Knowledge of malaria signs, symptoms and mode of transmission were higher in the follow-up survey (97.26%) than the baseline survey. Use of bed nets for prevention of malaria was found to be high (90.15%) at respondent level. People's knowledge of selected parameters increased significantly during the follow-up survey compared to the baseline survey conducted in 2007.



A reduced prevalence rate of malaria and increased level of knowledge were observed in the present malaria prevalence survey in Bangladesh.
icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh. shafiul@icddrb.org.
Mohammad Shafiul
0000-0001-8330-5499
MS
Alam
BRAC, 75 Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Mohammad Moktadir
MM
Kabir
icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh.
Mohammad Sharif
MS
Hossain
BRAC, 75 Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Shamsun
S
Naher
BRAC, 75 Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Nur E Naznin
NE
Ferdous
icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh.
Wasif Ali
WA
Khan
icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh.
Dinesh
D
Mondal
NMCP Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh.
Jahirul
J
Karim
DGHS Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh.
A K M
AK
Shamsuzzaman
DGHS Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh.
Be-Nazir
BN
Ahmed
BRAC, 75 Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Akramul
A
Islam
icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh.
Rashidul
R
Haque
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D001769:Blood / Q000469:parasitology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D060085:Coinfection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
Awareness; Bangladesh; Malaria; Prevalence; Survey