Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40722086›Full record

ArticleMalaria journal2025

Emergence of urban malaria and the associated risk factors: a case-control study in Mutare city, Zimbabwe.

Sungano Mharakurwa, Natasha Mbwana, Trish Mharakurwa, Thelma Karumbidza, Vuyisile Mathe, Punha Fusire, Andrew Tangwena, Wilson Chauke, Munyaradzi Mukuzunga, Patience Dhliwayo and 4 more

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Article in Malaria journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Sungano MharakurwaAfrica University, Old Mutare, Mutare, Zimbabwe. mharakurwas@africau.edu.
Natasha MbwanaAfrica University, Old Mutare, Mutare, Zimbabwe.
Trish MharakurwaAfrica University, Old Mutare, Mutare, Zimbabwe.
Thelma KarumbidzaAfrica University, Old Mutare, Mutare, Zimbabwe.
Vuyisile MatheAfrica University, Old Mutare, Mutare, Zimbabwe.
Punha FusireManicaland Provincial Medical Directorate, Ministry of Health and Child Care, Mutare, Zimbabwe.
Andrew TangwenaNational Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Wilson ChaukeNational Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Munyaradzi MukuzungaManicaland Provincial Medical Directorate, Ministry of Health and Child Care, Mutare, Zimbabwe.
Patience DhliwayoNational Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Shungu Mtero MunyatiBiomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Lovemore GwanzuraBiomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Jeffrey A BaileyBrown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
William J MossJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Funding

Epidemiology of Malaria Invasion in Mutare City and Targets for Elimination, ZimbabweK43TW011414 · FIC · AFRICA UNIVERSITY · PI MHARAKURWA, SUNGANO · 2021 to 2025
$506k
FIC NIH HHS 1K43TW011414FIC NIH HHS K43 TW011414
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMutare city of Zimbabwe was considered free of autochthonous malaria, until 2017, when the Ministry of Health and Child Care formally confirmed escalating cases of locally transmitted malaria in the city. The current study examined the risk factors for malaria cases in the city to aid in formulation of targeted intervention packages for helping restore malaria-free status.

methodsThe study employed complementary cross-sectional and case-control designs to ascertain the magnitude and risk factors of urban malaria cases presenting at all eight primary health care facilities of Mutare city from 2022 to 2023. Malaria cases were enrolled as confirmed by RDT or microscopy on presenting all-age symptomatic suspected malaria patients. Controls were similarly enrolled as all-age symptomatic suspected malaria patients found negative by both RDT and microscopy. All cases and controls were enrolled as representative of the presenting population with no matching. Data were analysed for descriptive and prevalence statistics, as well as risk factors, using SPSS Faculty version 27.

resultsIn a multivariate binary logistic model, significant risk factors for malaria cases found in the city included residential locale (RR [95%CI]: 3 [1.1-5.8], p = 0.029, N = 7,222), household proximity to still surface water pools or unprotected wells (16 [3.8-67.5], p < 0.001) and travel history in the past 2 weeks (9 [5.2-14.4], p < 0.001, N = 7,222), modal travel destinations being malaria-endemic adjoining districts within Zimbabwe, as well as areas of neighbouring Mozambique, mainly for trade or work. By far the most predominant risk factor for malaria cases was artisanal mining (RR [95%CI]: 22 [10.7-44.1], p < 0.001), which was 93% dominated by men, and male residents exhibited four-fold higher odds of being malaria cases than females (4 [2.0-6.5]).

conclusionsSignificant risk factors for urban malaria were found that were consistent with both autochthonous transmission and imported malaria in Mutare city. Environmental management and the deployment and concomitant promotion of mass ITNs, personal protection and other intervention packages, especially targeting communities exposed to the identified risk factors, would be instrumental towards re-establishing urban malaria elimination from Mutare city.

Indexed as

MalariaUrban PopulationAdolescentAdultAgedCase-Control StudiesChildChild, PreschoolCitiesCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansInfantMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceEliminationEmergencePlasmodiumRisk factorTransmissionUrban malaria

Identifiers

PMID40722086
PMCPMC12305887

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.