Malaria in Ethiopia Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the environmental and human causes, prevalence, spatial patterns, socio-economic impacts, and mitigation strategies for malaria in Ethiopia based on lecture notes.

Malaria Altitude Threshold

Malaria is generally absent in the central highlands above $2400\,m$ as temperatures drop below the environment needed for transmission.

Plasmodium parasite lifecycle threshold

The temperature of $20^{\circ}C$ required for the parasite to successfully complete its development circle.

Western lowland risk profile

Areas that are hot and humid year-round, representing high risk zones for malaria.

Seasonal transmission peak

Transmission peaks between Sept - Dec, occurring immediately after the rainy season when stagnant pools provide breeding grounds.

Population movement impact

The migration of seasonal workers between malaria-free highlands and infected lowlands for harvest, facilitating disease spread.

Irrigation project breeding sites

Large scale schemes in Awash valley and Gambella that created permanent mosquito breeding sites in formerly dry areas.

Urban pockets

Areas of stagnant water created by poor drainage and waste management in rapidly growing towns.

Malaria prevalence in Ethiopia

Approximately $75\%$ of Ethiopia's land area is malarial, and $60\%$ of the population lives in these high risk areas.

2023 Malaria Incidence

A total of $4.1$ million reported cases, representing a leading cause of morbidity and mortality.

Spatial Patterns: High risk

Geographic areas including the western lowlands such as Tigray, Amhara, and Gambella.

Spatial Patterns: Low risk

Geographic areas such as the central highlands, including Addis Ababa and surrounding areas.

Spatial Patterns: Unstable / epidemic

Found in the Eastern lowlands where transmission is confined to river valleys and occurs in cycles.

Economic productivity impact

Labor shortages during planting and harvesting seasons caused by malaria, reducing national food security and GDP.

Tax on the poor

A reference to the household poverty impact where rural families spend over $5\%$ of annual income on malaria treatment and transport.

Human capital impact

Long-term impacts on literacy rates caused by high rates of school absenteeism among children because of malaria.

Healthcare burden percentage

Malaria accounts for up to $40\%$ of public health expenditure and a large percentage of outpatient clinic visits.

ITN

Insecticide treated nets; over $40$ million were distributed between 2005 - 2015.

IRS

Indoor Residual Spraying; the practice of spraying the inside of homes with long-lasting insecticides to kill mosquitoes that land on walls.

RDTs

Rapid diagnostic tests rolled out in rural areas to allow for immediate diagnosis.

ACT

Artemisinin based combination therapy; the treatment used immediately following diagnosis with RDTs.

PMI

Presidents Malaria Initiative; a major international partnership with USAID providing funding for surveillance and logistics.

Global fund

An organization providing billions in grants to strengthen health infrastructure.

Health extension program

A program training $50,000+$ health workers to educate locals in remote villages on stagnant water removal and net usage.

Environmental management

Community-led schemes designed to drain pools and fill in mosquito breeding sites.