Malaria and Water Resource Development for Hydropower Generation in Ethiopia: The Case of Gilgel-Gibe Hydroelectric Dam

A cross-sectional community-based study was carried out from October to December 2005 in Jimma Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia among children under 10 years of age living in 3 at risk and 3 control villages. Villages with similar eco-topography were selected and designated as potentially at risk and control based on their distance from the dam. Households with under 10 children were randomly selected from both at risk and control villages. Blood sample collected from children using finger pricks was smeared and examined microscopically. A total of 1855 (1081 from at risk, 397 from control) children were screened for malaria throughout the study and the overall positivty was 10.13%. Of these, 112 (59.57%, n=188) were due to P. vivax, 75 (39.89%, n=188) P. falciparum and 1 (0.53%, n=188) mixed infection. The prevalence of malaria in at risk and control villages was 13.2% and 6.0%, respectively.Moreover, Children living near the dam had high chance of infection compared to those living further away (OR=2.47). The study showed that children living near the dam are at increased risk of malaria compared to those living away.