Background: Malaria is a major cause of death and morbidity worldwide. A Cross-border malaria control is a critical hurdle to attaining malaria control and elimination worldwide as well as in Ethiopia.
Objective: The overall objective of the project was an assessment of the factors associated with the prevalence of malaria, emphasizing travel and entomology in, Ethio-Sudan border.
Methods: A health facility-based mixed study design was implemented. Data was entered using EPI Info and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Advanced statistical procedures were used, including logistic regression, to identify factors associated with variables of interest. Adult anopheles mosquitoes were collected by CDC light. Breeding habitats were sampled for larvae collection. A key informant interview was used to collect qualitative data. The information was then entered into NVIVO version 12 for coding and further analysis.
Results: Of the 398 participants in the study, 118 (29.6%) tested positive for malaria parasites. Six factors were found to be independently linked to malaria. Males (AOR = 4.132; 2.48; 6.873), residents of rural areas (AOR = 2.139; 95% CI: 1.310–3.492), having a history of travel within the last 30 days (AOR = 2.093; 95% CI: 1.288, 3.401), living close to mosquito breeding places (AOR = 1.878; 95% CI: 1.081, 3.262), using LLITN (AOR = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.339, 0.992), and IRS activity done over the last six months (AOR = 0.143; 95% CI: 0.042, 0.488) are malaria-causing risk factors. Anopheles gambiae was the most prevalent species (49.5%). Religious people and adults travel and cross the Sudan border more than other communities for different purposes.
Conclusion: The risk factors for malaria infection include being male, residing in rural areas, being close to mosquito breeding areas at less than 1 kilometer, using LLITN or IRS, and having travel history. The predominant vector in the research area is the Anopheles Gambiae complex. Marketers and members of the religious community frequently cross the Ethiopia-Sudan border.
Keywords: Human mobility Malaria, Prevalence, Ethio-Sudan boarder
