Malaria Risk in Nairobi's Informal Settlements
Author Information
Author(s): Yé Yazoumé, Kimani-Murage Elizabeth, Kebaso John, Mugisha Frederick
Primary Institution: African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC)
Hypothesis
What is the risk of perceived malaria in urban informal settlements of Nairobi?
Conclusion
Malaria is perceived as a significant health issue in Nairobi's informal settlements, with a strong association between the number of reported symptoms and the likelihood of reporting malaria.
Supporting Evidence
- Malaria was reported as the leading cause of illness among participants.
- The risk of perceived-malaria was higher in Viwandani compared to Korogocho.
- Individuals aged 25-39 years had significantly higher odds of perceived-malaria.
- The Kikuyu ethnic group had lower odds of perceived-malaria compared to others.
- Higher symptom scores were associated with increased odds of reporting malaria.
Takeaway
People living in slums in Nairobi think they have malaria, especially if they feel sick with many symptoms. This shows that malaria might be a bigger problem in the city than people think.
Methodology
A self-reported morbidity survey was conducted on 7,288 individuals in two informal settlements, using logistic regression to analyze the data.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to reliance on self-diagnosis and reporting of symptoms.
Limitations
The study relied on self-reported data without laboratory confirmation of malaria cases.
Participant Demographics
{"total_population":1394,"gender_distribution":{"male":739,"female":654},"age_distribution":{"under_5":343,"5_14":235,"15_24":214,"25_40":367,"over_40":235},"ethnicity_distribution":{"Kikuyu":367,"Kamba":311,"Luhya":199,"Luo":305,"Other":212}}
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.008
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 1.10–2.26
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website