MAGNITUDE OF MALARIA AND ASSOCIATED FACTORSAMONG FEBRILE UNDER FIVE CHILDREN ATTENDING PEDIATRIC OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT OF MATTU KARL COMPREHENSIVE SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL, MATTU TOWN, SOUTH WEST, ETHIOPIA INVASTIGATIOR

Background: Malaria is among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity among under five children in developing countries. Ethiopia has set targets for controlling malaria through at-risk group interventions. However, the disease remains a serious public health concern. Objective: This study aimed at determining the magnitude of malaria and associated factors among febrile children under 5 years old attending Mattu Karl Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among systematically randomly selected 311 under five children in Mattu Karl Specialized Hospital, South west Ethiopia, from June 2024 to July 2024. A capillary blood sample was collected from each child to prepared thin and thick blood smears. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect on sociodemographic data, parental/caregiver knowledge, and malaria determining factors. Multicollinearity was checked by variance inflation factor while model fitness was checked by Hosmer-Lemeshow test at p > 0.05. Bivariable logistic regression was run to select candidate variables for multivariable logistic regression analysis at p< 0.25.AOR along with its 95% CI was used for measure of association. Statistical significance was declared at p < 0.05. Results: The overall magnitude of malaria among febrile under-five children visiting Mattu Karl Comprehensive Specialized Hospital was 47.3% (95% CI: 42%–53%). Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium. vivax, and mixed infection (both species) accounted for 52.7%, 38.6%, and 8.7% of the cases, respectively. The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that living in rural residence [AOR=1.97 95% CI (1.17, 3.63)], caregiver’s educational status of unable to read and write [AOR=2.00: 95% CI (1.58, 8.72)], not sleeping under ITN [AOR=3.42 95% CI (2.93, 6.78)], and presence of outdoor activity at night [AOR =2.24, 95% CI (1.21, 9.15)] were the factors independently associated with malaria infection among febrile under five children. Conclusion: The magnitude of malaria was high among children under the age of five enrolled in the study. The local government should focus on regular insecticide treated net utilization reducing the risk of mosquito bites while sleeping at night and increasing public understanding of malaria prevention and control through health education would also help to minimize the burden of malaria