Disparities of Environmental Risk Factors Influence Heterogeneity of Malaria Prevalence in Uganda

Abstract

Malaria is environmentally linked disease of public health concern, yet the aspect of environment in elucidating dynamics of its transmission has not received adequate research focus in Africa and Uganda in particular. A descriptive survey using field observation data sheets and household questionnaire-based survey with 141 respondents were used to collect data from February 2006 to May 2006. The study assessed local knowledge, attitudes and practice for malaria control, as well as key environmental parameters that facilitate human-mosquito interactions. The results demonstrated that perception and degraded environment had positive and significant association with malaria prevalence in Mbale Municipality (p < 0.01). These results suggest that public health education on environmental management for health could result in increased local knowledge be- coming a basis for creating a joint malaria control platform, with communities playing proactive role at the forefront of any interventions for malaria control.