Potential Risk Factor for Malaria Infection in Banjarnegara, Indonesia: A Matched Case-control Study

Context: This research is performed in Banjarnegara, an endemic malaria area in Indonesia. Considering the incidence of malaria in Indonesia in the last ten years, it is essential to assess the potential risk factors to maintain the cases and to accelerate malaria elimination.

Aims: This study examined the potential risk factors from the human socio-economic aspect and human behavior for malaria cases.

Settings and Design: This is a match case-control study conducted in 34 cases and 34 controls in Banjarmangu Subdistrict, Banjarnegara, Indonesia. The subjects for the two groups were based on the routine report of Banjarmangu I public health center from July 2017–March 2018. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to select the subject.

Statistical Analysis: Logistic regression was used to seek the association among the variables.

Results: This research found that installing wire netting, not sleeping under a bed net, and consuming higher transportation costs were significant protective factors for malaria cases. Having lower family income was significant as a potential risk factor for malaria cases (OR=10.68, CI = 1.01-112.59).

Conclusions: This study may explain that economic income was the essential aspect of malaria prevention as it contributed to the other health issues, such as health-seeking behavior.