Socioeconomic Condition and Prevalence of Malaria Fever in Pakistani Children: Findings from a Community Health Survey. (18th July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Asif, Atta Muhammad; Tahir, Muhammad Ramzan; Arshad, Irshad Ahmad
• Is Part Of: Journal of tropical pediatrics. Volume 64:Number 3(2018:Jun.)
• Page Start: 189
• Page End: 194
• Publication Date: 2017-07-18
• Subjects: malaria fever -- socioeconomic condition -- multilevel logistic regression; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Tropical medicine -- Periodicals; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Tropical Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental Health -- Periodicals; Infant; Child; 618.929883
• DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmx047
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0142-6338

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: We assessed the prevalence of malarial fever and its association with demographic and socioeconomic factors in children <5 years of age. Methods: Using the data of Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS), the socioeconomic condition (SEC) was assessed by using a household wealth index as a proxy indicator, generated through principal component analysis. Two-stage sampling was used for selection of households, and multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: The PDHS contains 10 935 children <5 years of age with valid information about malaria fever. In total, 36% (3930) children have malaria 2 weeks before the survey. A decreasing trend in prevalence of malaria fever was found with increasing SEC. Compared with SEC Quintile V, children of SEC Quintile I were more likely to get fever [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.40 (1.15–1.69)] and of SEC Quintile II [AOR = 1.23 (1.03–1.45)]. Conclusion: SEC has a significant impact on the prevalence of malaria fever in the context of different regions in Pakistan.