Authors

1 1Researcher, Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan,Iran.

2 Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol AND Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Iran University of Medical ‎Sciences, ‎Tehran, Iran.

3 Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.

4 PhD Candidate of Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

5 Social Development & Health Promotion Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran.

6 MSc in Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran.

7 Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.

8 Esfarayen Faculty of Medical Sciences, Esfarayen, Iran.

9 MSc in Epidemiology, Abadan School of Medical Science, Abadan, Iran.

10 Social Determinants in Health Promotion Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran AND PhD ‎Candidate, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Background
Malaria is one of tropical and semi-tropical and vector-borne parasitic diseases produced by the protozoan parasites of the genus and species Plasmodium. The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiology and the factors associated with the malaria in children in Sistan and Baluchistan province in 2013-2016.
Materials and Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted between March 2013 to March 2016 on 247 child cases of malaria in Sistan and Baluchistan province. Descriptive statistics were used to describe demographic and clinical status of malaria in children. The Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used to identify factors affecting malaria in children using SPSS 18, software.
Results: Of 247 cases, 51.8% were boys, 70.9% were in rural areas and 64.4 % were Iranian. Plasmodium Vivax with 83.8 % of cases was the most common species of the plasmodium. The relationship between parasite species and treatment failure, illness severity and type of treatment were statistically significant as (P<0.05).
Conclusion
Children are at high risk for malaria in Sistan and Baluchestan province; therefore, it is necessary that the primary and second level of prevention programs be done with more emphasis; as a result, prevent the occurrence or at least reduce the number of disease cases.

Keywords