Malaria is an infectious disease which causes about 500 million infections and 2 million deaths annually, mainly in the tropics and sub-Saharan Africa.  In some areas, malaria is one of the top 5 causes of death among children.  People get malaria by being bitten by an infected female Anopheles mosquito, most commonly at dusk or at night.  The infection enters the person’s body through malaria parasites contained in the infected mosquito’s saliva.  Malaria can also be transmitted through blood transfusion, organ transplant, or the shared use of needles or syringes that are contaminated with blood.  If they contract malaria, pregnant women and children are more likely to get severely ill and die.

Malaria in pregnant women is an important cause of stillbirths and infant mortality.  Prevention for pregnant women and children is especially important.  Anti-malarial medications can be taken preventively, and the use of mosquito repellents such as DEET, and mosquito nets can reduce the chances of contracting malaria.

Many countries have adopted the Roll Back Malaria strategy, which aims to ensure that pregnant women and children have access to affordable, suitable means of prevention such as insecticide treated mosquito nets (ITNs) and prompt, effective treatment for malaria.  It is also recommended that pregnant women have access to intermittent preventive treatment (IPT).

The Demographic and Health Surveys includes a module on malaria in high prevalence areas.  The surveys measure ownership of mosquito nets, use of mosquito nets by children and women, and prompt and effective treatment of fever (a malaria symptom).

Related Indicators

• Ownership of mosquito nets
• Use of mosquito nets by children
• Use of mosquito nets by pregnant women
• Use of Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT) by pregnant women
• Prevalence and prompt treatment of fever
• Type and timing of antimalarial drugs
• Anemia in children

Related Publications

Final DHS reports:

• Benin 2001
• Burkina Faso 2003
• Cameroon 2004
• Eritrea 2002
• Ghana 2003
• Guinea 2005
• Kenya 2003
• Malawi 2004
• Malawi 2000
• Mali 2001
• Mauritania 2003
• Mauritania 2000/2001
• Nigeria 2003
• Rwanda 2000
• Tanzania 2004
• Uganda 2000/2001
• Zambia 2001/02
• Zimbabwe 2004/2005