Parasitology Component

This component addresses objectives one and two through a study titled “Incidence and Seasonal Trends of Plasmodium Species Infections among Primary School Children in Baringo County, Kenya”.

Main objective:

The main objective is to determine the incidence and seasonal trends of Plasmodium species infections among primary school children in Baringo county of Kenya.

Specific objectives:

This main objective includes the following specific objectives:

• To determine the incidence of Plasmodium species infections among primary school children in Baringo County of Kenya.
• To determine the seasonal trends of malaria based on retrospective health data extracted from selected Baringo County hospitals for the period 2004-2014.
• To determine the sensitivity and specificity of SD RDT and Care Start RDT kits in the diagnosis of Plasmodium spp. infections among children in selected primary schools in Baringo County.
• To determine the effects of weather (temperature and humidity) on the sensitivity and specificity of SD RDT and GoK-recommended RDT kits in diagnosing malaria.

Methods:

Testing is done by collecting finger prick blood samples and testing for P. falciparum infections during each of the dry and wet seasons longitudinally from selected primary schools proximal to mosquito collection sites in the four zones. During the exercise, one finger prick blood sample (20µl) is collected by a phlebotomist for both thick and thin smears and the two rapid diagnostic test kits. Both thick and thin smears are prepared in the field and safely carried to the laboratory for microscopy. Prior to blood collection, physical examination of the pupils is conducted by a trained nurse. Medical status (fever, headache, chills and joint pains) and medication history is recorded.

Treated malaria cases were also extracted from hospitals records for the period between 2004 and 2014 to determine the seasonal trends of malaria transmission based on retrospective health data extracted from selected health facilities within Baringo County.

Expected outputs:

The expected outputs of the parasitology component are that the following will be known:

• The seasonal trends of malaria from 2004-2014
• Current incidence of Plasmodium species infections among primary school children
• Difference in sensitivity and specificity among three different rapid diagnostic test kits

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