Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Malar J. 2022 Jun 11;21(1):184. doi: 10.1186/s12936-022-04211-9.
In Ethiopia, thousands of seasonal migrant workers travel from non-malaria or mild malaria transmission areas to malaria-endemic areas for seasonal farm activities. Most of these migrants stay in the farm areas for land preparation, plowing, planting, weeding, and harvesting for a specific period and return to their living areas. However, there is limited evidence of how seasonal migrant workers contribute to the transmission of malaria to new or less malaria transmission areas.
A cross-sectional study was conducted at the departure phase of seasonal migrant workers in the Metema district from September 2018 to October 2019. A total of 1208 seasonal migrant workers were interviewed during their departure from farm sites to their homes. The face-to-face interviews were performed using a pretested structured questionnaire. Moreover, blood samples were collected from each study participant for microscopic malaria parasite examination. The data were fitted with the logistic regression model to estimate the predictors of malaria transmission.
At departure to home, the prevalence of malaria among seasonal migrant workers was 17.5% (15.6-19.45%). Approximately 71.80% (177/212) of the cases were Plasmodium falciparum, and 28.20% (35/212) were Plasmodium vivax. Most seasonal migrant workers 934 (77.4%) were from rural residences and highlanders 660 (55%). Most 661 (55.4%) of the migrants visited two and more farm sites during their stay at development corridors for harvesting activities. Approximately 116 (54.7%) asymptomatic malaria cases returned to the Dembia 46 (21.7%), Chilaga 46 (19.8%) and Metema 28 (13.2%) districts.
In this study, asymptomatic malaria remains high among seasonal migrant workers departing to home from malaria endemic areas. This may fuel a resurgence of malaria transmission in the high lands and cause challenges to the country's malaria prevention and elimination efforts. Hence, tailored interventions for seasonal migrant workers could be in place to enhance malaria control and elimination in Ethiopia, such as asymptomatic malaria test and treat positive cases at departure and transit, and integration between malaria officers at their origin and departure for further follow-up to decrease any risk of spread at the origin.
在埃塞俄比亚，数以千计的季节性移民工人从无疟疾或轻度疟疾传播地区前往疟疾流行地区从事季节性农业活动。这些移民中的大多数人会在农场地区停留一段时间，进行土地开垦、耕种、种植、除草和收割，然后返回他们的生活区域。然而，关于季节性移民工人如何将疟疾传播到新的或疟疾传播较少的地区，目前证据有限。
本研究于 2018 年 9 月至 2019 年 10 月在梅特马区季节性移民工人离开农场前往居住地的阶段进行了横断面研究。共有 1208 名季节性移民工人在离开农场前往居住地时接受了面对面访谈。访谈使用了经过预测试的结构化问卷。此外，从每个研究参与者身上采集了血液样本，用于进行显微镜疟疾寄生虫检查。将数据拟合到逻辑回归模型中，以估计疟疾传播的预测因素。
在离开农场前往居住地时，季节性移民工人的疟疾患病率为 17.5%（15.6-19.45%）。约 71.80%（177/212）的病例为恶性疟原虫，28.20%（35/212）为间日疟原虫。大多数季节性移民工人 934 名（77.4%）来自农村居民和高地居民 660 名（55%）。大多数移民工人 661 名（55.4%）在发展走廊逗留期间，会前往两个或更多的农场。约有 116 名（54.7%）无症状疟疾病例返回德姆比亚 46 名（21.7%）、奇拉加 46 名（19.8%）和梅特马 28 名（13.2%）区。
在这项研究中，从疟疾流行地区返回居住地的季节性移民工人中，无症状疟疾仍然居高不下。这可能会助长高地疟疾传播的复苏，并给该国的疟疾预防和消除工作带来挑战。因此，需要为季节性移民工人制定有针对性的干预措施，以加强埃塞俄比亚的疟疾控制和消除工作，例如在离开和过境时对无症状疟疾病例进行检测和治疗，并整合原籍地和出发地的疟疾官员，以便对进一步随访，以减少在原籍地传播的任何风险。
