A Systematic Analysis of the Malaria Situation in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

Background: Consistent with the Global Burden of Disease, malaria in Côte d’Ivoire is ranked as the first cause of mortality for both gender and all ages, before maternal and neonatal mortalities and tuberculosis, respectively. In Côte d’Ivoire, 100% of the country’s population is at risk of being exposed to the disease, specifically children under five, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals; malaria cases in Côte d’Ivoire represent 3% of the global malaria case incidence rate and 2% of global malaria deaths. Despite unprecedented progress in malaria prevention and control in Côte d’Ivoire, malaria incidence has been stagnating during the last five years, showing a slight increase from 260 cases per 1000 inhabitants in 2015 to 300 cases per 1000 inhabitants in 2019. The goal of this systemic analysis in Côte d’Ivoire is to provide an overall description of malaria indicators, discuss gaps in malaria control interventions, how such interventions are financed, and identify barriers for decreasing malaria trends in the country.Methods: In this study, we used the following research terms to search for articles and deliverables: “malaria in Ivory Coast,” “paludisme Côte d’Ivoire.” We searched six databases and search engines; the review, selection, and validation of records were performed through title and abstract analyses. We then undertook a further review of specific themes related to malaria control in Côte d’Ivoire. Results: For this study, the author reviewed a total of 268 peer-reviewed articles. A total of 52 articles met our inclusion criteria; in addition to these, we used 37 documents from grey literature that were validated after consultation with public health experts in Côte d’Ivoire. There was evidence of progress in malaria control in Côte d’Ivoire, however, more research on malaria burden is still needed with improved surveillance tools. Conclusions: Malaria is endemic in Côte d’Ivoire, with high endemicity in some provinces. Due to its ubiquity, multiple actors have come together to combat the disease, including the National Malaria Control Program, international partners, and local organizations. Despite the substantial progress in vector control and case management of malaria in Côte d’Ivoire in recent years, malaria target indicators among children under five and pregnant individuals remain unachieved and stagnant. While investigating malaria burden in Côte d’Ivoire, we noticed a lack of publications that describe indicators, strategies, and gaps within malaria control interventions in the last five years. We conclude that continuing to improve the currently implemented strategies, increasing their reach, and further financing of malaria research in Côte d’Ivoire is crucial for better understanding and control of malaria in the country.