Tanzania HIV/AIDS and Malaria Indicator Survey ... - Measure DHS

In spite of steady increases in ITN coverageand the special contributions of the Hati Punguzo programme,coverage of ITNs did not reach the set targetof 60 percent of households by 2007. The governmenthas responded by increasing the scope and scale ofITN distribution through subsidized national schemes.11.7 PREVALENCE OF MALARIA AND ANAEMIAIn areas of constant and high malaria transmission,partial immunity develops within the first twoyears of life. Many people, including children, mayhave malaria parasites in their blood without showingany outward signs of infection. Such asymptomatic infectionnot only contributes to further transmission ofmalaria but also take a toll on the health of individualsby contributing to anaemia.The cause of anaemia in malaria-endemicareas is often multi-factorial and cyclical; nutritionaldeficiencies such as iron-deficiency anaemia make anindividual vulnerable to infection, which further contributesto nutritional deficiencies. Anaemia is a majorcause of morbidity and mortality associated withmalaria, making prevention and treatment of malariaamong children and pregnant women all the moreimportant.11.7.1 Coverage of Malaria TestingAll children age 6-59 months living in thehouseholds selected for the 2007-08 THMIS wereeligible for malaria and haemoglobin testing. Table11.10 shows the coverage rates for malaria testingamong children by background characteristics. Nosignificant associations were observed. Overall, nine inten children (94 percent) were tested for malaria.11.7.2 Malaria and Anaemia PrevalenceIn the 2007-08 THMIS, the Paracheck Pfrapid diagnostic blood test was used to detect malariaand the HemoCue system was used to measure theconcentration of haemoglobin in the blood. Table11.11 shows the percentage of children age 6-59months who tested positive for malaria and the percentagewho tested positive for severe anaemia(haemoglobin concentration of less than 8.0 grams perdecilitre), by select background characteristics.Table 11.10 Coverage of malaria testing amongchildren under fiveAmong children age 6-59 months eligible for malariatesting percentage who have been tested, bybackground characteristics (unweighted), TanzaniaHMIS 2007-08BackgroundcharacteristicPercentageof childrenage 6-59monthstested formalariaNumber ofchildren eligiblefor testing(unweighted)Age in months6-11 89.5 81212-23 94.6 1,58324-35 94.6 1,46836-47 94.6 1,43248-59 93.5 1,517ResidenceUrban 90.2 1,128Rural 94.5 5,684Mainland/ZanzibarMainland 93.5 5,068Mainland – Urban 89.2 821Dar es Salaam City 88.6 166Other Urban 89.3 655Mainland – Rural 94.3 4,247Zanzibar 94.5 1,744Region/IslandArusha 88.0 209Dar es Salaam 86.9 183Dodoma 95.0 202Iringa 95.4 197Kagera 97.5 283Kigoma 94.0 302Kilimanjaro 96.8 185Lindi 94.0 166Manyara 95.2 272Mara 92.1 369Mbeya 96.8 221Morogoro 87.7 162Mtwara 89.3 178Mwanza 94.4 321Pwani 93.7 158Rukwa 97.0 302Ruvuma 96.0 226Shinyanga 93.1 376Singida 97.7 220Tabora 89.3 337Tanga 90.5 199Pemba 95.7 1,125Unguja 92.2 619EducationNo education 93.2 1,728Primary incomplete 94.5 1,236Primary complete 94.2 3,096Secondary + 92.2 748Missing 50.0 4ZoneWestern 92.1 1,015Northern 92.7 865Central 96.4 422Southern Highlands 96.5 720Lake 94.5 973Eastern 89.3 503Southern 93.3 570Wealth quintileLowest 94.2 1,388Second 93.5 1,360Middle 95.8 1,373Fourth 93.8 1,526Highest 91.2 1,164Total 93.8 6,812148 | Malaria