Effect of Climate Variability on Malaria Prevalence among Children in Elgeyo Marakwet West Sub County, Kenya

Abstract

Malaria remains an issue of great public health concern and, in developing nations, children under five years old are particularly susceptible due to hygiene and poverty. It’s caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum spread by female Anopheles mosquitoes and is affected by climate change, especially temperature and rainfall. The purpose of this research was to evaluate these climatic impacts on the malaria incidence in children in Elgeyo Marakwet West Sub-County through spatio-temporal spatial distribution and relationship between climate and malaria prevalence. The study applied purposive and systematic random sampling with mathematical models to show the correlation between malaria incidence and climate using R-studio and SPSS. Results showed that climate was highly correlated with malaria prevalence, with hotter weather and more frequent rains leading to more cases of malaria. The results imply that climate change might further worsen malaria in this area, thus the necessity for an effective surveillance system using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for real-time monitoring. There should also be a local education campaign to increase prevention, use insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), and eradicate mosquito nests.