Research

Evidence of decline of malaria in the general hospital of Libreville, Gabon from 2000 to 2008

Marielle Karine Bouyou-Akotet^1,2 , Denise Patricia Mawili-Mboumba¹ , Eric Kendjo^1,4 , Modeste Mabika-Mamfoumbi^1,2 , Edgard Brice Ngoungou^1,2 , Arnaud Dzeing-Ella² , Mireille Pemba-Mihindou² , Euloge Ibinga^1,2 , Emmanuel Efame-Eya² , MCRU team² , Tim Planche⁵ , Peter G Kremsner^3,4 and Maryvonne Kombila^1,2

¹  Department of Parasitology-Mycology and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, BP 4009 Libreville, Gabon

²  Malaria Clinical Research Unit (MCRU), Centre Hospitalier de Libreville, Libreville, Gabon

³  Medical Research Unit, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Lambaréné, Gabon

⁴  Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Germany

⁵  Department of Infectious Diseases, St George's Hospital Medical School, Cranmer Terrace, London, UK

author email corresponding author email

Malaria Journal 2009, 8:300doi:10.1186/1475-2875-8-300

Published:	17 December 2009

Abstract

Background

Substantial decline in malaria transmission, morbidity and mortality has been reported in several countries where new malaria control strategies have been implemented. In Gabon, the national malaria policy changed in 2003, according to the WHO recommendations. The trend in malaria morbidity was evaluated among febrile children before and after their implementation in Libreville, the capital city of Gabon.

Methods

From August 2000 to December 2008, febrile paediatric outpatients and inpatients, under 11 years of age, were screened for malaria by microscopic examination at the Malaria Clinical Research Unit (MCRU) located in the largest public hospital in Gabon. Climatic data were also collected.

Results

In total, 28,092 febrile children were examined; those under five years always represented more than 70%. The proportion of malaria-positive slides was 45% in 2000, and declined to 15% in 2008. The median age of children with a positive blood smear increased from 24(15-48) to 41(21-72) months over the study period (p < 0.01). Rainfall patterns had no impact on the decline observed throughout the study period.

Conclusion

The decrease of malaria prevalence among febrile children during the last nine years is observed following the introduction of new strategies of malaria cases management, and may announce epidemiological changes. Moreover, preventive measures must be extended to children older than five years.