Factors in Association with Malaria Infection in Phu Phan District, Sakon Nakhon Province, Thailand

Abstract

Malaria is a major concern for the world public health, especially in tropical
areas. In Thailand, it is found that the outbreak of the disease is in forests and along border
areas. Sakon Nakhon province is one of the areas having the outbreak. In the past three
years, the morbidity rate had been higher than the target figure set by the Ministry of Public
Health. This study is a case-control analytical study aiming at studying factors associated
with malaria infection in Phu Phan District Sakon Nakhon Province, Thailand. The study
group reported by Primary Care Unit in Phu Phan district, Sakon Nakhon was 68 patients
having malaria infection. In the same area, the control group, meanwhile, was 136 normal
people not having malaria infection. Data were collected by interviewing. Descriptive statistics
were employed for data analysis. Multiple logistic regression was used for analyzing factors
causing malaria infection.
The results showed that the factors in statistically significant association with
malaria infection were sex, age, occupation. Men were more likely to have malaria infection
than women by 2.91 times. (95% CI 1.37-6.19), the participants aged less than or equivalent
to 45 showed more risk of malaria infection than those aged more than or equivalent to 46
up to 3.63 times (95% CI 1.76-7.49), and people who do farming or plantation were more at
risk of malaria infection than those who do not do farming or plantation up to 1.74 times
(95% CI 1.13-2.67).
According to the results of this study, there should be a plan to prevent and
control malaria infection, especially in the high-risk groups, namely, men and people aged
less than or equivalent to 45, and people who do farming or plantation. In case of
exposure to risk areas, people should wear safe clothes and have safety equipment, such
as mosquito repellent, pesticide to decrease the morbidity rate from malaria.