Urban malaria in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review of epidemiologic studies
Abstract Background Malaria control in African cities faces challenges mainly due to unplanned urbanization and the spread of Anopheles stephensi. Urbanization is changing malaria dynamics, driven by environmental changes and population growth, with nearly 70% of people projected to live in urban ar...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Malaria Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05368-9 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849699450436452352 |
|---|---|
| author | Hailu Merga Teshome Degefa Zewdie Birhanu Afework Tadele Ming-Chieh Lee Guiyun Yan Delenasaw Yewhalaw |
| author_facet | Hailu Merga Teshome Degefa Zewdie Birhanu Afework Tadele Ming-Chieh Lee Guiyun Yan Delenasaw Yewhalaw |
| author_sort | Hailu Merga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Malaria control in African cities faces challenges mainly due to unplanned urbanization and the spread of Anopheles stephensi. Urbanization is changing malaria dynamics, driven by environmental changes and population growth, with nearly 70% of people projected to live in urban areas by 2050. This scoping review maps the epidemiology of urban malaria in sub-Saharan Africa, identifying research gaps and guiding strategies for control and elimination. Methods A structured search across multiple databases was performed using predefined eligibility criteria to select articles. Accordingly, PubMed, Medline EBSCO, Google scholar, Science direct, Cochrane library and grey literature sources were searched for relevant articles. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines were followed for evidence selection, data extraction, and presentation of findings. Peer-reviewed and gray literature published in English after 2014 that reported on the prevalence, incidence, or risk factors of urban malaria in sub-Saharan Africa was included in the review. Results Of the 2459 records identified from various databases, 32 articles were selected for review. A majority of those reviewed studies were community-based studies conducted in urban settings of sub-Saharan African countries. This review found the prevalence of malaria between 0.06% and 58%. This heterogeneity in prevalence is due to differences in diagnostic methods, study design, population characteristics, diagnostic methods, and environmental factors. A majority of those reviewed studies reported the prevalence between 10 and 30% with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax the dominant species. The review identified key factors associated with urban malaria infection, including socioeconomic status, travel history, prior infection, proximity to water sources, availability of vegetation in the compound, temperature, humidity, livestock ownership, and ITN utilization. Conclusion This review found a high prevalence of urban malaria infection in sub-Saharan Africa and there was regional variation. Sociodemographic and socioeconomic status, travel history, ITN utilization, previous history of malaria infection and environmental factors like proximity to water sources, presence of vegetation, temperature, humidity, and livestock ownership were identified as factors associated with urban malaria infection. Hence, there is a need for a comprehensive approach to control urban malaria, including environmental management, improved diagnostics and treatment, socio-economic interventions, and better urban planning. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ba6f22db591541628775a94d7aa4fbb5 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1475-2875 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Malaria Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-ba6f22db591541628775a94d7aa4fbb52025-08-20T03:18:34ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752025-04-0124111710.1186/s12936-025-05368-9Urban malaria in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review of epidemiologic studiesHailu Merga0Teshome Degefa1Zewdie Birhanu2Afework Tadele3Ming-Chieh Lee4Guiyun Yan5Delenasaw Yewhalaw6Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Health, Jimma UniversitySchool of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Institute of Health, Jimma UniversityDepartement of Health, Behavior, and Society, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma UniversityDepartment of Population and Family Health, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma UniversityProgram in Public Health, University of California at IrvineProgram in Public Health, University of California at IrvineSchool of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Institute of Health, Jimma UniversityAbstract Background Malaria control in African cities faces challenges mainly due to unplanned urbanization and the spread of Anopheles stephensi. Urbanization is changing malaria dynamics, driven by environmental changes and population growth, with nearly 70% of people projected to live in urban areas by 2050. This scoping review maps the epidemiology of urban malaria in sub-Saharan Africa, identifying research gaps and guiding strategies for control and elimination. Methods A structured search across multiple databases was performed using predefined eligibility criteria to select articles. Accordingly, PubMed, Medline EBSCO, Google scholar, Science direct, Cochrane library and grey literature sources were searched for relevant articles. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines were followed for evidence selection, data extraction, and presentation of findings. Peer-reviewed and gray literature published in English after 2014 that reported on the prevalence, incidence, or risk factors of urban malaria in sub-Saharan Africa was included in the review. Results Of the 2459 records identified from various databases, 32 articles were selected for review. A majority of those reviewed studies were community-based studies conducted in urban settings of sub-Saharan African countries. This review found the prevalence of malaria between 0.06% and 58%. This heterogeneity in prevalence is due to differences in diagnostic methods, study design, population characteristics, diagnostic methods, and environmental factors. A majority of those reviewed studies reported the prevalence between 10 and 30% with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax the dominant species. The review identified key factors associated with urban malaria infection, including socioeconomic status, travel history, prior infection, proximity to water sources, availability of vegetation in the compound, temperature, humidity, livestock ownership, and ITN utilization. Conclusion This review found a high prevalence of urban malaria infection in sub-Saharan Africa and there was regional variation. Sociodemographic and socioeconomic status, travel history, ITN utilization, previous history of malaria infection and environmental factors like proximity to water sources, presence of vegetation, temperature, humidity, and livestock ownership were identified as factors associated with urban malaria infection. Hence, there is a need for a comprehensive approach to control urban malaria, including environmental management, improved diagnostics and treatment, socio-economic interventions, and better urban planning.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05368-9Urban malariaEpidemiologyIncidenceDeterminantsScoping reviewSub-Saharan Africa |
| spellingShingle | Hailu Merga Teshome Degefa Zewdie Birhanu Afework Tadele Ming-Chieh Lee Guiyun Yan Delenasaw Yewhalaw Urban malaria in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review of epidemiologic studies Malaria Journal Urban malaria Epidemiology Incidence Determinants Scoping review Sub-Saharan Africa |
| title | Urban malaria in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review of epidemiologic studies |
| title_full | Urban malaria in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review of epidemiologic studies |
| title_fullStr | Urban malaria in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review of epidemiologic studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Urban malaria in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review of epidemiologic studies |
| title_short | Urban malaria in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review of epidemiologic studies |
| title_sort | urban malaria in sub saharan africa a scoping review of epidemiologic studies |
| topic | Urban malaria Epidemiology Incidence Determinants Scoping review Sub-Saharan Africa |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05368-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hailumerga urbanmalariainsubsaharanafricaascopingreviewofepidemiologicstudies AT teshomedegefa urbanmalariainsubsaharanafricaascopingreviewofepidemiologicstudies AT zewdiebirhanu urbanmalariainsubsaharanafricaascopingreviewofepidemiologicstudies AT afeworktadele urbanmalariainsubsaharanafricaascopingreviewofepidemiologicstudies AT mingchiehlee urbanmalariainsubsaharanafricaascopingreviewofepidemiologicstudies AT guiyunyan urbanmalariainsubsaharanafricaascopingreviewofepidemiologicstudies AT delenasawyewhalaw urbanmalariainsubsaharanafricaascopingreviewofepidemiologicstudies |