Spatial modelling of fever prevalence and suspected malaria cases among children: a cross-sectional study

Aklilu Toma Shamenna, Hawassa University
Ayele Taye Goshu, Hawassa University

The purpose of this study was to model the spatial dependence of fever prevalence and suspected malaria cases among children in Ethiopia. Data were obtained from 2011 EDHS collected for 144 districts at SNNP and Oromia Regional States. Explanatory spatial data analysis and spatial lag and error models were applied. The results showed that the spatial lag model better fitted to the data. Prevalence rate of each of the events in a district was shown to be affected by that of its neighbors’ status. There is spatial dependency for both variables -childhood fever prevalence and suspected malaria cases. The hot spot areas are at the center of each region. Several risk factors need attention. Interventions to mitigate occurrence of malaria infection among children would take in to account the nature of spatial variability and the identified risk factors.