Abstract

Background: Malaria is endemic in Zambia, with seasonal and geographical variations. It has over a decade been the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the country. Malaria accounts for up to 50% of all infant mortality and 20% of all maternal mortality in Zambia and presents severe social and economic burdens on communities living in endemic areas.

Methods: A retrospective, observational study was performed at each of the four original districts in Lusaka Province of Zambia. Annual reported, district-level, aggregated malaria surveillance data were collected from all the four original districts of Lusaka Province from 2009 to 2013 using the Zambian District Health Information System (DHIS) through structured questionnaires. Data on annual provincial population were collected from Central Statistics Office (CSO) of the Republic of Zambia. District aggregated malaria data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel to show the trends of malaria morbidity and mortality in Lusaka Province by district.

Results: Lusaka Province malaria morbidity was 80 per 1000 in 2009, 90 per 1000 in 2010, 92 per 1000 in 2011, 40 per 1000 in 2012 and 60 per 1000 population in 2013. Malaria mortality rate was 0.13 per 1000 in 2009, 0.15 per 1000 in 2010, 0.06 per 1000 in 2011, 0.02 per 1000 in 2012 and 0.01 per 1000 population in 2013.

Conclusion: There was a significant reduction in the burden of malaria in Lusaka province from 2009 to 2013. However, malaria remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the Province with Luangwa District as the most affected. Although malaria affected everyone, children below five years of age were the most affected. Malaria control interventions should be intensified in the province more especially in the rural districts where malaria badly hit the province.

Keywords: Malaria; Epidemiology; Trends; Lusaka province