Risk Factors for Plasmodium Falciparum Recurrence in Artemether Lumefantrine Treated Population from Bushenyi District, Uganda

Background: Malaria remains a major Public health problem. In 2019, it was reported that Uganda accounts for 5 % of the total global cases of malaria related deaths after Nigeria and Democratic Republic of Congo.Various risk factors may be responsible for poor treatment outcomes. Thus the main aim of this study was to evaluate the Risk factors for Plasmodium falciparum recurrence in Artemether-lumefantrine treated population from Bushenyi district, Uganda. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in four selected health centers of Bushenyi district, Uganda by using questionnaire, direct observations and laboratory based studies. Data analysis was done using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS version 23 windows) for descriptive statistics. Logistic regression analysis was done to evaluate the association between Plasmodium falciparum recurrence and associated risk factors. Results: Statistically independent predictor risk factors for Plasmodium falciparum recurrence at p<0.05 were; Previous Diagnosis used before the current artemether lumefantrine (AL) treatment (OR=11.864; 95% CI: 1.477-95.280; p=0.020), Sleeping with animals (OR=0.193; 95% CI: 0.075-0.894; P=00.032), Age (OR=1.435; 95% CI: 0.0825-0.975; p=0.040), Travelling outside the study area (OR=2.324; 95% CI: 0.050-0.699; p= 0.012), Weight (OR =1.543; 95% CI: 0.085-0.987; p= 0.002), Gametocytes on day 0 (OR =0.284; 95% CI: 0.0625-0.735; p= 0.032)9 Conclusions: Monitoring of transmission potentiality after Artemisinin combined therapies (ACTs) treatment is vital in the fight against malaria infection.