Prevalence of Malaria in Displaced Camps in Khartoum State

Abstract

A cross sectional descriptive study was carried out from November 2008 to February 2009 among displaced camps in Khartoum state (Dar Alsalam and Jabal Awlia, are urbanizing areas) to determine the prevalence of malaria. One hundred fifty venous blood samples were collected from symptomatic subjects from each camp. In Dar Alsalam camp, the distribution of specimens was as follows: 59 from pregnant women, 46 from adult and 45 from children under 10 years of age while in Jabal Awlia camp, 48 were from pregnant for women, 52 from adult and 50 from children under 10 years of age. Thick and thin blood films were prepared from each sample, stained with 10% Giemsa and examined microscopically for plasmodium sp. Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) was applied to 10 positive samples(5 from each camp) and 10 negative samples (5 from each camp) for the confirmation of the parasitological results and characterization of the parasite. Microscopically, the prevalence of malaria in Dar Alsalam camp was (5%, as 8 out of 150 specimens were positive) and (11%, as 16 out of 150 specimens were positive) in Jabal Awlia camp. All the 10 selected positive samples were confirmed as P. falciparum by PCR technology. The negative samples of Jabal Awlia camp were negative with PCR. Regarding Dar Alsalam camp, 2 blood films negative samples gave positive result P. falciparum by PCR. Study group, socioeconomic status, education level, use of bed net and the presence of trees and water well inside or out side the houses have no significant correlation to malaria prevalence in the two camps. PCR is more sensitive than blood film in the diagnosis of malaria. P. falciparum is the species found in these two urbanized areas.