Spatiotemporal Distribution of Malaria in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Background: Malaria is a significant public health concern in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This study aimed to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of malaria in the KSA between 2017 and 2021. Methods: A spatial analysis was conducted using data for malaria cases stratified by <i>...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/9/1/16 |
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| author | Ahmed Elagali Mosa Shubayr Elsiddig Noureldin Kefyalew Addis Alene Asmaa Elagali |
| author_facet | Ahmed Elagali Mosa Shubayr Elsiddig Noureldin Kefyalew Addis Alene Asmaa Elagali |
| author_sort | Ahmed Elagali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Malaria is a significant public health concern in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This study aimed to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of malaria in the KSA between 2017 and 2021. Methods: A spatial analysis was conducted using data for malaria cases stratified by <i>Plasmodium</i> species reported by the Ministry of Health for the period 2017–2021. Covariate data such as environmental, socioeconomic, and demographic factors were assembled from different publicly available sources. Results: A total of 13,852 cases were reported from 20 regions in the KSA during the study period. The study indicated a decline in the overall number of reported cases from 2715 in 2017 to 2616 in 2021, primarily driven by a decrease in <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> infections. However, the number of <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> cases increased in 2021. Southern regions of the KSA remained at higher risk due to imported cases from neighboring Yemen. Socioeconomic and demographic factors, such as access to healthcare and education, were found to affect malaria transmission. Environmental factors, such as temperature and rainfall, were also identified as determinants of malaria risk. Conclusions: This study showed significant spatial variation in malaria cases in the KSA that was related to underlying socioeconomic status and environmental factors. The findings of this study highlight the need for continued efforts to control and eliminate malaria in the KSA, particularly in regions with higher risk of malaria. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:33:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-48d938e58f8d4f079b4f95b97bf89778 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2414-6366 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:33:17Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
| spelling | doaj.art-48d938e58f8d4f079b4f95b97bf897782024-01-26T18:42:48ZengMDPI AGTropical Medicine and Infectious Disease2414-63662024-01-01911610.3390/tropicalmed9010016Spatiotemporal Distribution of Malaria in the Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaAhmed Elagali0Mosa Shubayr1Elsiddig Noureldin2Kefyalew Addis Alene3Asmaa Elagali4School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, AustraliaDepartment of Preventive Dental Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi ArabiaVeterinary Laboratory of Tropical Diseases, Jazan 45142, Saudi ArabiaFaculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, AustraliaDepartment of Zoology, Omdurman Islamic University, Al Khartoum 14415, SudanBackground: Malaria is a significant public health concern in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This study aimed to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of malaria in the KSA between 2017 and 2021. Methods: A spatial analysis was conducted using data for malaria cases stratified by <i>Plasmodium</i> species reported by the Ministry of Health for the period 2017–2021. Covariate data such as environmental, socioeconomic, and demographic factors were assembled from different publicly available sources. Results: A total of 13,852 cases were reported from 20 regions in the KSA during the study period. The study indicated a decline in the overall number of reported cases from 2715 in 2017 to 2616 in 2021, primarily driven by a decrease in <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> infections. However, the number of <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> cases increased in 2021. Southern regions of the KSA remained at higher risk due to imported cases from neighboring Yemen. Socioeconomic and demographic factors, such as access to healthcare and education, were found to affect malaria transmission. Environmental factors, such as temperature and rainfall, were also identified as determinants of malaria risk. Conclusions: This study showed significant spatial variation in malaria cases in the KSA that was related to underlying socioeconomic status and environmental factors. The findings of this study highlight the need for continued efforts to control and eliminate malaria in the KSA, particularly in regions with higher risk of malaria.https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/9/1/16malariaepidemiologyspatiotemporal distributionecological determinantsKingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| spellingShingle | Ahmed Elagali Mosa Shubayr Elsiddig Noureldin Kefyalew Addis Alene Asmaa Elagali Spatiotemporal Distribution of Malaria in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease malaria epidemiology spatiotemporal distribution ecological determinants Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| title | Spatiotemporal Distribution of Malaria in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| title_full | Spatiotemporal Distribution of Malaria in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| title_fullStr | Spatiotemporal Distribution of Malaria in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatiotemporal Distribution of Malaria in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| title_short | Spatiotemporal Distribution of Malaria in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| title_sort | spatiotemporal distribution of malaria in the kingdom of saudi arabia |
| topic | malaria epidemiology spatiotemporal distribution ecological determinants Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/9/1/16 |
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