A comparative analysis of the risk factors of Malaria in Children under age of five years in Uganda and Kenya

Abstract The aim of study is to compare the risk factors of malaria in children under the age of five years old in Uganda and Kenya. Secondary data from the Uganda Malaria Indicator Survey 2014–2015 and Kenya Malaria Indicator Survey 2015 was used. A descriptive summary, Pearson chi-square test and logistic regression were used as methods of analysis. In Uganda, Children below five years old aged between 48 and 59 months were more likely to test positive for Malaria compared to those aged between 0 and 11 months (OR = 3.26; CI = 2.420–4.389). Similarly, in Kenya with (OR = 6.77; CI = 2.782–16.458). Also, in Uganda, the category of residence of the child had a significant association with the risk of malaria (OR = 2.25; CI = 1.453–3.498). In relation to region, in Uganda, children from East central region of Uganda (OR = 4.13; CI = 2.579–6.627), North east region of Uganda (OR = 2.15; CI = 1.364–3.387) and West Nile region (OR = 2.48; CI = 1.451–4.235) were more likely to have malaria compared to children from Central 1 while in Kenya, children from North Eastern (OR = 0.06; CI = 0.008–0.487) and Eastern (OR = 0.03; CI = 0.004–0.249) regions were less likely to experience malaria compared to children from Coast region. The study recommends that both Governments of Uganda and of Kenya through their respective Ministries of Health should intensify the health education programs specifically targeting pregnant women and mothers with children under five years of age to educate them on the measures for preventing malaria in children under five years