article · Malaria Journal
Malaria remains a primary cause of illness and death among young children in Tanzania. An analysis of national survey data from 2022, covering 4,923 children aged between 6 and 59 months tested with rapid diagnostic tools, identified an overall malaria prevalence of 8 percent. Infection rates varied considerably across the country, reaching 23 percent in the Tabora region, while remaining below 1 percent in several other areas including Dodoma, Arusha, Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar. Key factors associated with higher infection rates include being aged between 24 and 59 months, living in rural settings, belonging to lower economic brackets, and never sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets. The findings point to a clear need for focused prevention efforts that improve net access and use, particularly in poorer rural communities.
Malaria severely affects child survival and health across Tanzania. By pinpointing the regions, age groups, and living conditions that carry the highest risk, public health authorities and programme planners can direct resources such as bed nets and educational campaigns where they are most urgently needed.
This epidemiological research does not describe a commercial product or technical invention, but it provides market and operational insight for manufacturers and distributors of insecticide-treated nets and rapid diagnostic tests. It highlights demand in specific rural and economically disadvantaged areas. The abstract itself does not indicate a direct technology commercialisation pathway.
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BACKGROUND: Malaria is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in children under age 5 years in Tanzania. It is more often recognized as the most serious health problem in the community by women and men in Tanzania. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and the determinants of malaria among children aged 6-59 months in Tanzania. METHODS: Secondary data analysis was conducted on data from 2022 Tanzanian Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey. The weighted sample included in this study was 4,923 children aged 6-59 months, who underwent malaria rapid diagnostic test. Data analysis was performed using Stata 18.0 software. The strength of the association was assessed using the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) along with its corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: The prevalence of malaria among children aged 6-59 months was 8% (95% CI 6.2, 9.5). The percentage of children with malaria was highest in Tabora (23%) and below 1% among children in Dodoma, Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Singida, Songwe, and the Zanzibar regions. The study found that children aged 24-59 months (aOR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.33, 2.21), children residing in rural areas (aOR = 6.92, 95% CI 2.19, 8.83), children from lower economic status (aOR = 3.08, 95% CI 1.22-7.83), and children who never slept under an insecticide-treated net (ITN) (aOR = 2.73, 95% CI 1.51-4.91) were significantly associated with malaria among children aged 6-59 months. CONCLUSION: The study revealed a malaria prevalence of 8% among children aged 6-59 months in Tanzania, with the highest percentage observed in Tabora. This prevalence was associated with older age, residence in rural areas, lower economic status, and lack of access to insecticide-treated nets (ITNs). These results underscore the need for targeted malaria prevention strategies, particularly in rural areas and among economically disadvantaged populations. Enhancing access to ITNs and promoting their use, along with broader health education initiatives, could significantly reduce malaria incidence in this vulnerable age group.
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DOI: 10.1186/s12936-025-05409-3
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