Relationship between malaria and sociocultural aspects in villages along the river Mahi in central Gujarat.

The sociocultural practices of the people differ between communities and play an important role in malaria control operations. The present study was carried out with the aim to understand the association of malaria with sociocultural determinants in malaria prone riverine villages of Kheda district in central Gujarat. Blood smears of persons with fever or having history of fever were collected and examined under microscope for malarial parasite. A structured questionnaire was used to record age, sex, social groups, education, sleeping habits and other sociocultural aspects of each patient. Data obtained was pooled and analysed statistically by applying Chi-square test. A total of 1781 patients with fever were screened for malaria (slide positivity rate -14.8% and Plasmodium falciparum -53.9%). Sociocultural practices of 1650 cases among which 259 had malaria were analysed. There was variable degree of malaria in different groups. A significant relation was noticed between malaria and social groups, profession, economic status and personal protection of the respondents. Malaria incidence was relatively high in scheduled castes, dependents (mainly kids and old aged people), farmers and in low-income group. The treatment seeking behaviour of the people did not show significant association with malaria although 63.4% patients took treatment after three days of the onset of fever. These observations indicate significant relationship between malaria morbidity and sociocultural practices. The findings would be helpful in better planning and implementation of malaria control strategies in the study area.