Trends in Malaria Testing and Positivity Rates by Age Group in Mimika Regency, Indonesia, 2020–2025

Reynold Rizal Ubra; Kamaludin Kamaludin; Imelda Ohoiledjaan

doi:10.59141/-.v8i1.517

Authors

Reynold Rizal Ubra Dinas Kesehatan Kabupaten Mimika, Indonesia
Kamaludin Kamaludin Dinas Kesehatan Kabupaten Mimika, Indonesia
Imelda Ohoiledjaan Dinas Kesehatan Kabupaten Mimika, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59141/-.v8i1.517

Keywords:

malaria, positivity rate, age group, risk ratio, malaria elimination

Abstract

Malaria remains a major public health problem in high-endemic areas such as Mimika Regency, Indonesia. Increasing examination coverage is a key strategy for accelerating malaria elimination; however, analyzing its impact on positivity rates (PR) and case distribution by age group is essential. This study aims to analyze malaria testing trends, positivity rates, and case distribution by age group in Mimika Regency from 2020 to 2025. A descriptive observational study with an analytical approach was conducted using secondary data from the malaria program (2020–2025). Analysis included calculation of positivity rate (PR), risk ratio (RR), and distribution of case proportions by age group, with proportional comparison tested using chi-square. The number of malaria tests increased from 189,243 (2020) to 1,191,218 (2025), while the positivity rate decreased from 41.1% to 15.6%. Microscopy showed a higher PR (31.2%) than rapid diagnostic tests (9.2%) with an RR of 3.39. Case distribution was dominated by the 15–64 years age group (65%), followed by children aged 1–14 years (32%), with statistically significant differences between age groups (p<0.05). In conclusion, increased testing coverage contributed significantly to the decline in positivity rate. However, the high number of cases in the productive age and the number of cases in children indicate that malaria transmission is still actively ongoing both outside the home and in the household. Risk-based and age-group interventions are needed to accelerate malaria elimination.

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