Modelling Malaria Vulnerability Hotspot By Using Geospatial Techniques: The Case Of Kindo Koysha Woreda, Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Malaria Is A Serious, Acute Disease Spread By Female Anopheles Mosquito Bites. Malaria Is Caused By Four Parasite Species. Plasmodium Falciparum Is The Most Common Of The Four Human Malaria Parasites In Sub-Saharan Africa. Ethiopia, One Of Africa's Sub-Saharan Countries, Is Suffering From A Malaria Epidemic. Malaria Is A Major Burden On Public Health Services In Wolaita Zone Approximately 85 Percent Of The Population Is At Risk Of Malaria, And Despite Effective Prevention And Control Interventions, The Malaria Outbreak Continues. The Traditional Vector-Borne Disease Control Strategy Is Based On Scientific Evidence Though Full Of Doubts And Ambiguities. Currently, The Problem Is Becoming Greater Due To Time Consuming Prevention And Control Activities For Malaria. The Main Objective Of The Current Study Is To Apply Geospatial Techniques For Geographical, Socioeconomic, And Epidemiological Parameters That Increase Certain Conditions For Malaria Incidence To Malaria Vulnerability Hotspot Identification By Using The Multi-Criteria Evaluation Method. Gis And Remote Sensing Were Used To Create A Malaria Vulnerability Hotspot Map Of The Study Area. Gis Software Is Used To Overlay And Analyze Various Geographical Datasets. All The Parameters Were Rated Based On Their Influence On Mosquito Breeding And Suitability For Mosquito Habitat. The Hotspot Identification Is Done By Applying The Ahp To Weight The Factor For Weighted Overlay And Finally The Malaria Vulnerability Hotspot Map Identified By UsingThe Malaria Hotspot Identification Algorithm. The Findings Of The Current Result Show That Very High And High Vulnerable Areas Accounted For About 51 Percent (224.14 Km2), Moderate Covers 26 Percent (116.560 Km2), And Low Vulnerable Areas Also Account For 23 Percent (103.600 Km2) Of The Study Area. Mashenga, Mundena, And The Fajana Mata Kebeles Those Very Highly Vulnerable Hotspots From The Kindo Koysha Woreda Kebeles And Also Borkeshie, Dada Kare, Moliticho, Sere Finchawa, And Chereche Are Highly Vulnerable. Generally, The Western Part Of The Study Area Which Is Near To Omo River With Low Elevation Is Highly Vulnerable To Malaria Incidence. Reliable Maps Of Malaria Vulnerability Hotspots Are Critical For Estimating The Scope Of The Problem And, Consequently, The Resources Required To Combat Malaria. The Current Study Confirmed That The Geospatial Technology With The Base Of Multi Criteria Evaluation To Model Malaria Vulnerability Is More Capable And Efficient To Apply. Similar Research Needs To Be Conducted In Areas Experiencing Malaria Epidemic Prediction By Using Geospatial Techniques. It Will Be Used As An Input To The Elimination Program Of Malaria Rather Than Control Practice