Socio-economic and Environmental Factors Influencing Malaria Prevalence among Children Under Five in Tanzania

Abstract

This study examined socio-economic and environmental factors influencing malaria prevalence among children under five in Tanzania using data from the Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS) 2022. A cross-sectional design was employed, analyzing 1,264 households with children under five, with malaria prevalence as the response variable and socio-economic (wealth, maternal education, marital status, sex of child) and environmental (roof material, place of residence) factors as predictors. Stepwise logistic regression showed that female children had 40% lower odds of malaria (OR=0.60, p=0.002), higher wealth reduced odds by 80% (OR=0.20, p<0.001), and primary education lowered odds by 65% (OR=0.35, p<0.001). Thatch/palm leaf roofs increased odds by 5.5 times (OR=5.50, p<0.001), and recent fever raised odds by 350% (OR=4.50, p<0.001). Rural residency (70.5%) and low maternal education (40.2% without education) were significant risk factors. Findings highlight the need for nationwide interventions, including community education and housing improvements, to support Tanzania’s National Malaria Strategic Plan 2021–2025 to malaria elimination by 2030.