{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,27]],"date-time":"2026-10-27T14:45:11Z","timestamp":1793112311658,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":60,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,13]],"date-time":"2025-01-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1736726400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Background<\/jats:title><jats:p>Malaria is a major global health hazard, particularly in developing countries such as Ethiopia, where it contributes to high morbidity and mortality rates. According to reports from the South Omo Zone Health Bureau, despite various interventions such as insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor residual spraying, the incidence of malaria has increased in recent years. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the spatial, temporal, and spatiotemporal variation in malaria incidence in the South Omo Zone, Southwest Ethiopia.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>A retrospective study was conducted using 4\u202fyears of malaria data from the South Omo Zone District Health Information Software (DHIS). The incidence rate of malaria per 1,000 people was calculated using Microsoft Excel software. Kulldorff SaTScan software with a discrete Poisson model was used to identify statistically significant spatial, temporal, and spatiotemporal malaria clusters. Graduated color maps depicting the incidence of malaria were generated using ArcGIS 10.7 software.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Spatial clusters were identified in the districts of Dasenech (RR\u202f=\u202f2.06, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.0001), Hamer (RR\u202f=\u202f1.90, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.0001), Salamago (RR\u202f=\u202f2.00, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.0001), Bena Tsemay (RR\u202f=\u202f1.71, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.0001), Malie (RR\u202f=\u202f1.50, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.0001), Nyngatom (RR\u202f=\u202f1.91, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.0001) and North Ari (RR\u202f=\u202f1.05, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.0001) during the period from 08th July 2019 to 07th July 2023. A temporal cluster was identified as the risk period across all districts between 08th July 2022 and 07th July 2023 (RR\u202f=\u202f1.59, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f0.001). Spatiotemporal clusters were detected in Dasenech (RR\u202f=\u202f2.26, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.001) Salamago, (RR\u202f=\u202f2.97, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.001) Hamer (RR\u202f=\u202f1.95, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.001), Malie (RR\u202f=\u202f2.03, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.001), Bena Tsemay (RR\u202f=\u202f1.80, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.001), Nyngatom (RR\u202f=\u202f2.65, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.001), North Ari (RR\u202f=\u202f1.50, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.001), and Jinka town (RR\u202f=\u202f1.19, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.001).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>Significant spatial, temporal, and spatiotemporal clusters in malaria incidence were identified in the South Omo Zone. To better understand the factors contributing to these high-risk areas, further research is needed to explore individual, household, geographical, and climatic factors. Targeted interventions based on these findings could help reduce malaria incidence and associated risks in the region.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2024.1466610","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,13]],"date-time":"2025-01-13T06:10:21Z","timestamp":1736748621000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":12,"title":["Spatial, temporal, and spatiotemporal cluster detection of malaria incidence in Southwest Ethiopia"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Lidetu","family":"Demoze","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fetlework","family":"Gubena","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Eyob","family":"Akalewold","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Helen","family":"Brhan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tigist","family":"Kifle","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gelila","family":"Yitageasu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","volume-title":"WHO guidelines for malaria, 03rd June 2022","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"fuab047","DOI":"10.1093\/femsre\/fuab047","article-title":"A population genetic perspective on the origin, spread, and adaptation of the human malaria agents plasmodium falciparum and plasmodium vivax","volume":"46","author":"Rougeron","year":"2022","journal-title":"FEMS Microbiol Rev"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"186","DOI":"10.4314\/eamj.v82i4.9279","article-title":"Malaria epidemics in the highlands of Ethiopia","volume":"82","author":"Negash","year":"2005","journal-title":"East Afr Med J"},{"key":"ref4","volume-title":"World malaria report 2022","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"tay050","DOI":"10.1093\/jtm\/tay050","article-title":"Malaria risk in travellers: a holistic approach is needed","volume":"25","author":"Davlantes","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Travel Med"},{"key":"ref6","year":"2023"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e38","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pmed.0050038","article-title":"The limits and intensity of plasmodium falciparum transmission: implications for malaria control and elimination worldwide","volume":"5","author":"Guerra","year":"2008","journal-title":"PLoS Med"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12916-020-01559-0","article-title":"A systematic review of changing malaria disease burden in sub-Saharan Africa since 2000: comparing model predictions and empirical observations","volume":"18","author":"Kamau","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMC Med"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e014719","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjgh-2023-014719","article-title":"Policy uptake and implementation of the RTS,S\/AS01 malaria vaccine in sub-Saharan African countries: status 2 years following the WHO recommendation","volume":"9","author":"Osoro","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMJ Glob Health"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s40249-018-0487-3","article-title":"Malaria epidemiology and interventions in Ethiopia from 2001 to 2016","volume":"7","author":"Taffese","year":"2018","journal-title":"Infect Dis Poverty"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"331","DOI":"10.1016\/S0001-706X(03)00123-2","article-title":"Spatial and temporal variations of malaria epidemic risk in Ethiopia: factors involved and implications","volume":"87","author":"Abeku","year":"2003","journal-title":"Acta Trop"},{"key":"ref12","volume-title":"Plasmodium vivax thematic review: Epidemiology.: A thematic review prepared for the writing committee for the development of the WHO of global strategic plan on plasmodium vivax control and elimination","author":"Howes","year":"2014"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/1475-2875-9-58","article-title":"Malaria indicator survey 2007, Ethiopia: coverage and use of major malaria prevention and control interventions","volume":"9","author":"Jima","year":"2010","journal-title":"Malar J"},{"key":"ref14","article-title":"Malaria in Ethiopia","author":"Adugna","year":"2011","journal-title":"Ethio. 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