Ethiopian Field Epidemiology Training Program (EFETP) Compiled Body of Works in Field Epidemiology

Introduction: Globally, about 3.2 billion people were at risk of malaria and the disease killed about 584 000 people in 2013, the burden is heaviest in the African Region. In Ethiopia, 68% of the population lives in malaria endemic areas, and malaria was the leading cause of outpatient visits and health facility admissions during 2009/2010. The malaria outbreak investigated to describe, determine the source and risk factors of the outbreak. Methodology: We investigated malaria outbreak in Asgede Tsimbla woreda from 1-10 Mar, 2016 using descriptive cross-sectional study followed by unmatched case-control study design. We recruited 50 cases and 100 controls. Data entry and cleaning conducted using Epi Info 7.1.6 and exported to SPSS 21 for analysis. Result: The bed net coverage of the district was 45% or 0.8/house hold. A total of 745 malaria confirmed cases were identified, with 22.2 cumulative incidence rate per 1000 population and 52.4 % positivity rate (68.7%, Plasmodium falciparum) in Asgede Tsimbla district from Jan, 25-Feb, 07, 2016. The outbreak affected six kebeles (22.2 %) of the district. The attack rate ranges from 16.4 to 28.4 per 1000 population by kebele. Majority (58.7%) of the cases were males .The median age was 19 years (range; 3mon-85yrs), age specific attack rate was higher in 15-59yrs age group, 25.2 per 1000 population. Stay inside home in the evening, AOR 0.16 (95%CI; 0.06-0.47) and sleeping under net always, AOR 0.13(95%CI; 0.05-0.3) were protective factors. Presence of sick patient in house hold, AOR 4.7 (95%CI; 1.8-11.8), breeding sites, AOR 5.7(95%CI; 2.2-14.5) and intermittent rivers, AOR 3.9(95%CI; 1.5-10.3) were independent risk factors. Conclusion: Presence of malaria breeding sites and malaria sick patient in house hold were independent risk factors for the outbreak. The low coverage and utilization of vector control - 2 - measures were responsible for the malaria outbreak. Scaling up key anti malaria interventions and utilization of the existing ones were among the ...