Description
- Abstract:
- Rwanda, an equatorial nation in east Africa, has a subtropical climate that is subject to two dry and two rainy seasons each year. As a geographic locus of malaria infection, most transmission occurs during or after the rainy season with peaks in May/June and November/December. As a mosquito-borne disease, malaria follows a predictable pattern of seasonality aligned with rainfall; however, this pattern has been poorly characterized in sub-Saharan African countries such as Rwanda. This ongoing study aims to elucidate the correlation of malaria with rainfall patterns as well as to detect any changes in malaria presentation as rainfall patterns become less predictable due to climate change. Monthly malaria case data was collected from the emergency department at Kibagabaga Level II Teaching Hospital, a district hospital in Kigali, Rwanda, from the years 2021-2024. Monthly rainfall data was collected via the Rwanda Meteorological Agency for the corresponding years. Early analysis shows a clear seasonality in rainfall patterns from 2021-2023. However, there is no discernible pattern to malaria case presentation during these years and more complex analysis involving case characteristics and severity will be required. Furthermore, data collection is ongoing through the year 2024 and in future, the project may be expanded to other district hospitals in Rwanda to broaden the malaria case dataset.
- Notes:
- Scholarly concentration: Non-Scholarly Concentrator
Access Conditions
- Use and Reproduction
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- Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
- Rights
- In Copyright
Citation
Risner, Caroline, Heilbronner, Rachel, Birahamire, Joseph MD MMed, et al.,
"Assessing Rainfall Variability and Malaria Diagnosis at a District Hospital in Rwanda"
(2024).
Warren Alpert Medical School Academic Symposium.
Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library.
https://repository.library.brown.edu/studio/item/bdr:7e69wpb9/
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Warren Alpert Medical School Academic Symposium
The Warren Alpert Medical School Academic Symposium is an annual event at Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University that provides Year II medical students a venue to present their summer research in a poster format. Participation in the Symposium …...