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

Malaria parasites were detected in 18 percentof children under five in Mainland Tanzaniacompared with 1 percent in Zanzibar. These observationsare similar to results obtained in other recentsurveys. The 2006 NMCP Monitoring andEvaluation Survey estimate of the prevalence ofasymptomatic malaria among children under fivein Mainland Tanzania was 21 percent, while theZanzibar 2007 RBM survey reported less than 1percent prevalence of malaria among children underfive in Zanzibar (MOHSW, 2006). For anaemia,the 2007-08 THMIS shows a smaller differencebetween the Mainland and Zanzibar in thepercentage of children with severe anaemia (8 percentin Mainland and 5 percent in Zanzibar).There are striking differences in the prevalenceof malaria among regions in MainlandTanzania. Malaria prevalence is 1 percent or less inArusha, Kilimanjaro, and Manyara, compared withmore than 30 percent in Kagera (41 percent) andMwanza (31 percent), Mtwara (34 percent), andLindi (36 percent). Although situated in a lowlandarea along the coastal belt—which favours malariatransmission—Dar es Salaam region and Dar esSalaam City have very low levels of malaria prevalence(1 percent each).The prevalence of anaemia varies little byurban-rural residence, but there are large differentialsacross regions in Mainland Tanzania. While10 percent or more of children in Shinyanga (11percent), Mara (13 percent), Morogoro (14 percent),and Ruvuma (18 percent) are severely anaemic,the proportion of children who are severelyanaemic in other regions is 9 percent or less.As expected, older children are more likelythan younger children to test positive for malaria.This may be because younger children are morelikely to sleep under a mosquito net than olderchildren. In contrast, younger children are morelikely than older children to be severely anaemic.This finding indicates that malaria alone is not thecause of anaemia. Other possibilities include nutritionalanaemia and hookworm infection.Children under five in households in thelowest wealth quintile, or who have a mother withlittle or no education, are more likely to testpositive for malaria and anaemia. For instance,only 4 percent of children in the highest wealthquintile tested positive for malaria, compared with23 percent of children in the poorest households.Higher levels of malaria are associated with ruralresidence (20 percent in rural areas compared with7 percent in urban areas), but anaemia levels arethe same (8 percent) in both urban and rural areas.Table 11.11 Prevalence of malaria and severe anaemiaamong children under fivePercentage of children age 6-59 months who tested positivefor malaria and for severe anaemia, by backgroundcharacteristics, Tanzania HMIS 2007-08Children under fivePercentageof childrenage 6-59monthspositive formalariaPercentageof childrenage 6-59monthspositivefor severeanaemia