Epidemiology of Malaria Cases Reported from Government Health Facilities in District Kanker, Chhattisgarh, January 2018 – December 2022

Background: Understanding the epidemiological pattern of malaria can help identify the focus areas in high-prevalence states like Chhattisgarh. Objectives: We analyzed the National Malaria Program’s surveillance data from all government health facilities in Kanker. Materials and Methods: We abstracted aggregate data from the National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme monthly reports and analyzed them by time, place, and personal characteristics. We calculated indicators such as the Annual Parasite Index (API), Annual Falciparum Index (AFI), Annual Blood Examination Rate (ABER), Test Positivity Rate (TPR), and Test Falciparum Rate (TFR). Results: The API and AFI decreased from 3.0 to 1.3 and from 2.5 to 1.1, respectively, from 2019 to 2022. Nearly 2/7 blocks and 1/7 blocks had API and AFI more than 2 in 2022, respectively. The proportion of Plasmodium falciparum cases increased to >90% from 2020 to 2021. The TPR and TFR declined by half from 2018 to 2022, keeping ABER around 30% across all the years. Conclusion: Reasons need to be explored for the higher API in two blocks.