Spatial-temporal patterns of malaria incidence in Uganda using HMIS data from 2015 to 2019

Abstract Background As global progress to reduce malaria transmission continues, it is increasingly important to track changes in malaria incidence rather than prevalence. Risk estimates for Africa have largely underutilized available health management information systems (HMIS) data to monitor tren...

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Main Authors: Simon P. Kigozi, Ruth N. Kigozi, Catherine M. Sebuguzi, Jorge Cano, Damian Rutazaana, Jimmy Opigo, Teun Bousema, Adoke Yeka, Anne Gasasira, Benn Sartorius, Rachel L. Pullan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2020-12-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-10007-w
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author Simon P. Kigozi
Ruth N. Kigozi
Catherine M. Sebuguzi
Jorge Cano
Damian Rutazaana
Jimmy Opigo
Teun Bousema
Adoke Yeka
Anne Gasasira
Benn Sartorius
Rachel L. Pullan
author_facet Simon P. Kigozi
Ruth N. Kigozi
Catherine M. Sebuguzi
Jorge Cano
Damian Rutazaana
Jimmy Opigo
Teun Bousema
Adoke Yeka
Anne Gasasira
Benn Sartorius
Rachel L. Pullan
author_sort Simon P. Kigozi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background As global progress to reduce malaria transmission continues, it is increasingly important to track changes in malaria incidence rather than prevalence. Risk estimates for Africa have largely underutilized available health management information systems (HMIS) data to monitor trends. This study uses national HMIS data, together with environmental and geographical data, to assess spatial-temporal patterns of malaria incidence at facility catchment level in Uganda, over a recent 5-year period. Methods Data reported by 3446 health facilities in Uganda, between July 2015 and September 2019, was analysed. To assess the geographic accessibility of the health facilities network, AccessMod was employed to determine a three-hour cost-distance catchment around each facility. Using confirmed malaria cases and total catchment population by facility, an ecological Bayesian conditional autoregressive spatial-temporal Poisson model was fitted to generate monthly posterior incidence rate estimates, adjusted for caregiver education, rainfall, land surface temperature, night-time light (an indicator of urbanicity), and vegetation index. Results An estimated 38.8 million (95% Credible Interval [CI]: 37.9–40.9) confirmed cases of malaria occurred over the period, with a national mean monthly incidence rate of 20.4 (95% CI: 19.9–21.5) cases per 1000, ranging from 8.9 (95% CI: 8.7–9.4) to 36.6 (95% CI: 35.7–38.5) across the study period. Strong seasonality was observed, with June–July experiencing highest peaks and February–March the lowest peaks. There was also considerable geographic heterogeneity in incidence, with health facility catchment relative risk during peak transmission months ranging from 0 to 50.5 (95% CI: 49.0–50.8) times higher than national average. Both districts and health facility catchments showed significant positive spatial autocorrelation; health facility catchments had global Moran’s I = 0.3 (p < 0.001) and districts Moran’s I = 0.4 (p < 0.001). Notably, significant clusters of high-risk health facility catchments were concentrated in Acholi, West Nile, Karamoja, and East Central – Busoga regions. Conclusion Findings showed clear countrywide spatial-temporal patterns with clustering of malaria risk across districts and health facility catchments within high risk regions, which can facilitate targeting of interventions to those areas at highest risk. Moreover, despite high and perennial transmission, seasonality for malaria incidence highlights the potential for optimal and timely implementation of targeted interventions.
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spelling doaj.art-1d0069e7178b4f1497e006addb90e0562022-12-21T23:30:14ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582020-12-0120111410.1186/s12889-020-10007-wSpatial-temporal patterns of malaria incidence in Uganda using HMIS data from 2015 to 2019Simon P. Kigozi0Ruth N. Kigozi1Catherine M. Sebuguzi2Jorge Cano3Damian Rutazaana4Jimmy Opigo5Teun Bousema6Adoke Yeka7Anne Gasasira8Benn Sartorius9Rachel L. Pullan10Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineUSAID’s Malaria Action Program for DistrictsInfectious Diseases Research CollaborationDepartment of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineNational Malaria Control Division, Uganda Ministry of HealthNational Malaria Control Division, Uganda Ministry of HealthDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Radboud UniversityDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Makerere UniversityAfrican Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA)Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineDepartment of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineAbstract Background As global progress to reduce malaria transmission continues, it is increasingly important to track changes in malaria incidence rather than prevalence. Risk estimates for Africa have largely underutilized available health management information systems (HMIS) data to monitor trends. This study uses national HMIS data, together with environmental and geographical data, to assess spatial-temporal patterns of malaria incidence at facility catchment level in Uganda, over a recent 5-year period. Methods Data reported by 3446 health facilities in Uganda, between July 2015 and September 2019, was analysed. To assess the geographic accessibility of the health facilities network, AccessMod was employed to determine a three-hour cost-distance catchment around each facility. Using confirmed malaria cases and total catchment population by facility, an ecological Bayesian conditional autoregressive spatial-temporal Poisson model was fitted to generate monthly posterior incidence rate estimates, adjusted for caregiver education, rainfall, land surface temperature, night-time light (an indicator of urbanicity), and vegetation index. Results An estimated 38.8 million (95% Credible Interval [CI]: 37.9–40.9) confirmed cases of malaria occurred over the period, with a national mean monthly incidence rate of 20.4 (95% CI: 19.9–21.5) cases per 1000, ranging from 8.9 (95% CI: 8.7–9.4) to 36.6 (95% CI: 35.7–38.5) across the study period. Strong seasonality was observed, with June–July experiencing highest peaks and February–March the lowest peaks. There was also considerable geographic heterogeneity in incidence, with health facility catchment relative risk during peak transmission months ranging from 0 to 50.5 (95% CI: 49.0–50.8) times higher than national average. Both districts and health facility catchments showed significant positive spatial autocorrelation; health facility catchments had global Moran’s I = 0.3 (p < 0.001) and districts Moran’s I = 0.4 (p < 0.001). Notably, significant clusters of high-risk health facility catchments were concentrated in Acholi, West Nile, Karamoja, and East Central – Busoga regions. Conclusion Findings showed clear countrywide spatial-temporal patterns with clustering of malaria risk across districts and health facility catchments within high risk regions, which can facilitate targeting of interventions to those areas at highest risk. Moreover, despite high and perennial transmission, seasonality for malaria incidence highlights the potential for optimal and timely implementation of targeted interventions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-10007-wUgandaMalariaIncidenceRelative riskRoutine surveillanceHMIS
spellingShingle Simon P. Kigozi
Ruth N. Kigozi
Catherine M. Sebuguzi
Jorge Cano
Damian Rutazaana
Jimmy Opigo
Teun Bousema
Adoke Yeka
Anne Gasasira
Benn Sartorius
Rachel L. Pullan
Spatial-temporal patterns of malaria incidence in Uganda using HMIS data from 2015 to 2019
BMC Public Health
Uganda
Malaria
Incidence
Relative risk
Routine surveillance
HMIS
title Spatial-temporal patterns of malaria incidence in Uganda using HMIS data from 2015 to 2019
title_full Spatial-temporal patterns of malaria incidence in Uganda using HMIS data from 2015 to 2019
title_fullStr Spatial-temporal patterns of malaria incidence in Uganda using HMIS data from 2015 to 2019
title_full_unstemmed Spatial-temporal patterns of malaria incidence in Uganda using HMIS data from 2015 to 2019
title_short Spatial-temporal patterns of malaria incidence in Uganda using HMIS data from 2015 to 2019
title_sort spatial temporal patterns of malaria incidence in uganda using hmis data from 2015 to 2019
topic Uganda
Malaria
Incidence
Relative risk
Routine surveillance
HMIS
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-10007-w
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