Determinants of malaria mortality among displaced people in Khartoum state, Sudan

Abstract

To find the determinants of malaria mortality among displaced people, a cross-sectional descriptive study using verbal autopsy was carried out in 2 camps in Khartoum state, Sudan. The heads of 856 households were interviewed about household characteristics, and malaria knowledge, attitudes and behaviour. They reported 81 malaria deaths during the previous year, 3.5% of all household members; 70 (86.4%) were children. Fever, diarrhoea, vomiting and headache were the most prevalent symptoms before death. Having a malaria death in the household was significantly associated with poor knowledge about malaria and, surprisingly, with better education. Poor treatment-seeking behaviour and poor attitudes towards malaria were not associated with higher mortality. However, mortality was significantly higher among households obtaining water by cart than from a well.