Modelling malaria vulnerability hotspot by using geospatial techniques: the case of Kindo Koysha Woreda, Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Malaria is a serious, acute disease spread by female Anopheles mosquito bites. Malaria is an epidemic in the Wolaita Zone, affecting 85% of the population despite the implementation of effective prevention and control measures in the area’s public health services. The main objective of this study is to apply geospatial techniques to environmental, socioeconomic, and epidemiological parameters that increase certain conditions for malaria incidence to identify malaria vulnerability hotspots using a multi-criteria evaluation method. The malaria vulnerability hotspot map is identified by using AHP and the malaria hotspot identification algorithm. The findings show that the research area is 51% very high and highly vulnerable (224.14 km²), 26% moderate (116.560 km²) and 23% low vulnerable (103.600 km²). The western part of the area, which is near the Omo River and has low elevation, is highly vulnerable to malaria incidence. Reliable malaria vulnerability hotspot maps are critical for estimating the scope of the problem and, consequently, the resources required to combat malaria.

Keywords:

• Epidemiology
• health hazards
• hotspot
• malaria
• environment

Acknowledgement

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for funding this work through Large Groups Project under grant number RGP 2/349/44.

Authors’ contributions

Conceptualization, A.D.B. and H.A.W.; methodology, S.K.; software, A.D.B.; validation, H.A., S.K., P.K. and S.H.; investigation, H.G.A.; resources, A.D.B.; data curation, S.K.; writing – original draft preparation, H.A., S.K., S.H., H.A., H.G.A., H.T.H., A.T. and M.J.A.; writing – review and editing. P.K., H.A.W., H.G.A. and H.T.H.; visualization, S.K.; supervision, S.K.; funding acquisition, H.G.A. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for funding this work through Large Groups Project under grant number RGP 2/349/44.