Epidemiological characteristics of malaria in the village of Corail, Grand’Anse, Haiti

Malaria is considered to be a major problem of public health in Haiti. However the impact of Plasmodium falciparum on health is poorly known in this country. The objective of this study is to verify the incidence of malaria as the cause of hospital consultation and to evaluate the rate of P. falciparum gametocytes carriage among the population living in a municipality within the Department of Grand’Anse where the prevalence of malaria is considered one of the strongest in Haiti. Analysis of hospital statistics of Corail (Grand’Anse) showed that only 17.4% of consultations of patients presenting with fever are due to microscopically confirmed malaria. The fraction of the population most affected is that of adults aged 15–39 years (55% of cases). Children under five represent only 11% of the cases. A community survey showed the rarity of the carriage of gametocytes in asymptomatic persons (0.9%). In Haiti, the epidemiological characteristics of malaria must have specified and documented field studies in order to adapt a strategy for fighting against this parasitic disease with greater efficiency.