Assessment of molecular markers for anti-malarial drug resistance after the introduction and scale-up of malaria control interventions in western Kenya

Table 1 Characteristics of Plasmodium falciparum smear-positive participants at the 2007 survey in western Kenya, by study area

Characteristic	Asembo (n = 61)	Gem (n = 97)	Karemo (n = 95)	p-value ^a
Male sex	32/61 (53)	47/96 (49)	43/91 (46)	0.75
Age, years
≤5	24/61 (39)	40/97 (41)	40/95 (42)	0.94
6-15	37/61 (61)	57/97(59)	55/95 (58)	0.94
Anaemic, Hb < 11 g/dL	24 (39)	33 (34)	46 (48)	0.12
Parasite density, geometric mean, per uL (95% CI)^b	548 (351–935)	513 (374–750)	704 (488–1,091)	0.54
Gametocytes present	9/61 (15)	19/97 (20)	12/95 (13)	0.40
Fever in last two weeks	31/61 (51)	62/95 (64)	47/95 (50)	0.088
Fever in last 24 hours	9/59 (15)	20/95 (21)	34/95 (36)	0.0083*
Drug taken for fever^c
Coartem	1/31 (3)	1/61 (2)	0/47 (0)	--
Sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine	4/31 (13)	2/61 (3)	2/47 (4)	0.20
Antifolate^d	7/31(23)	4/61 (7)	3/47 (6)	0.055
Chloroquine	2/31 (7)	3/61 (5)	0/47 (0)	--
Amodiaquine	4/31 (13)	5/61 (8)	2/47 (4)	0.37
Other (non-anti-malarial)	24/31(77)	38/61 (62)	28/47 (60)	0.24
Bed net usage
Any^e (treated or untreated)	31/61 (51)	42/95 (44)	19/95 (20)	<0.0001*
ITN^f	30/61 (49)	29/95 (31)	7/95 (7)	<0.0001*

Note. Data are proportion (%) of P. falciparum smear-positive participants with molecular data, unless otherwise indicated.
Hb, haemoglobin; CI, confidence interval; ITN, insecticide-treated bed net.
^aDerived from overall Chi-square or Fisher’s exact (where expected cell counts were below 5) test for categorical variables or analysis of variance (ANOVA) for continuous, normally distributed variables.
^bAsexual parasite density and the presence of gametocytes were detected by microscopy. Parasite density was log transformed prior to statistical analysis.
^cSelf-reported drug use was asked for participants who reported being febrile in the two weeks prior to the survey; participant may have taken multiple drugs to treat fever.
^dSulphadoxine-pyrimethamine or Septrin (cotrimoxazole). ^eReported sleeping under a bed net the night prior to survey.
^fITN use among participants who reported sleeping under a bed net the night prior to survey.
*P <0.05, statistically significant.

ISSN: 1475-2875