Epidemiology Study of Malaria Transmission Intensity in Sub-Saharan Africa

The number of participants was summarized by the WHO age group (0.5-1 year [Y] and 2-9Y) and by center number/ country [Burkina Faso (BF), Senegal (SN), Tanzania (TZ), Kenya (KE), Ghana (GH), Malawi (MA)]/ city. Unexposed (UNEXP) sites are the ones in which the RTS,S vaccine was not planned to be implemented during the course of the study however, vaccinated participants could still have been randomly selected in this population if vaccination happened in an exposed (EXP) site, due to cross-site migration. The infection was identified using a blood smear slide and determined using microscopy.

The number of participants was summarized by the JTEG age group (0.5-4Y and 5-9Y) by center number/ country [BF, SN, TZ, KE, GH, MA]/ city. UNEXP sites are the ones in which the RTS,S vaccine was not planned to be implemented during the course of the study however, vaccinated participants could still have been randomly selected in this population if vaccination happened in an EXP site, due to cross-site migration. The infection was identified using a blood smear slide and determined using microscopy.

The number of participants using malaria control interventions was summarized by: participants sleeping under a mosquito net the night before their visit, participants who have a new bednet (less than 1 year), participants who have a impregnated bednet (dipped in liquid to repel mosquitos after purchase), participants who have a pierced/torn bednet, participants with bednets classified by hole size (defined as holes big enough to let one finger go through) and number of holes (less than [<] 5 holes, more or equal [>=] to 5 holes, not applicable [NA] which is a participant who did not sleep under a bed net, missing confirmed [MC] which is a participant who slept under a mosquito net but who didn't answer to the question on holes).

The number of participants using malaria control interventions was summarized by: mosquito coils, insecticide sprays, commercial repellants, traditional repellants and indoor residual sprays (in the past 12 months, 1 to 12 months, NA [the participant didn't use the residual spray], missing [participant used spray but didn't answer to how long ago]).

The number of participants was summarized by: center number/ country [BF, SN, TZ, KE, GH, MA]/ city, gender (female, male) and infection status (infected, not infected).

The infections with other Plasmodium species were determined using a blood smear slide and microscopy. The number of participants infected with P. malaria, P. vivax and P. ovale was summarized.

The number of participants who received anti-malarial therapy out of those who reported malaria in the last 14 days prior to the study visit was summarized.

Fever was defined as an axillary temperature of 37.5°C or higher.

Fever was defined as an axillary temperature of 37.5°C or higher.

The number of participants demonstrating care-seeking behavior following reported fever or malaria was summarized by where the participant was taken for treatment (home, drug seller, pharmacy, private clinic, health center, hospital, other, not applicable [no treatment received]), by when the participant was taken for treatment (at onset, when the participant did not improve, when the participant got worse, other, not applicable [no treatment received], missing [participant was taken for treatment but did not answer the question regarding when]) and by what time the participant was taken for treatment (the same day, the next day, 2 days later, more than 2 days later, not applicable [no treatment received], missing [participant was taken for treatment but did not answer the question regarding the time]).

The number of participants was summarized by: center number/ country [BF, SN, TZ, KE, GH, MA]/ city followed by the segment ID. Positioning of the participant's residence was attributed to a segment with a unique ID from the grid referencing study area map in which the participant resided; where necessary, grouping small geographically proximate villages so that each segment had at least 10 study participants to avoid personally identifiable information (PII), and proceeding as far as geographically appropriate.

Participants were categorized by the number of people living in the same house relative to enrolled participants as follows: less than of equal to (<=) 3 per 1 enrolled (LE 3/1), 4-5 per 1 (4-5/1), more than (>) 5 per 1 (GT 5/1); <=3 per 2 enrolled (LE 3/2), 4-5 per 2 (4-5/2), >5 per 2 (GT 5/2); <=3 per 3 enrolled (LE 3/3), 4-5 per 3 (4-5/3), >5 per 3 (GT 5/3); 4-5 per more than 3 enrolled (4-5/GT 3), >5 per more than 3 enrolled (GT 5/GT 3). Participants were also categorized by parasite density: low (<2500 parasites/μL), medium (2500-9999/μL), high (10000-19999/μL), very high (>=20000/μL), negative, and missing.

Participants were categorized by location as follows: situation area (rural, urban, semi-rural) and type of location (large city, small city, town, countryside). Participants were also categorized by parasite density: low (<2500 parasites/μL), medium (2500-9999/μL), high (10000-19999/μL), very high (>=20000/μL), negative, and missing.

Participants were categorized by house characteristics as follows: wall material (mud, brick, cement/plaster, clay, other), floor material (natural, rudimentary, vinyl/asphalt strips, parquet/polished wood, ceramic tiles, cement, carpet, clay, other), roof type (iron sheet, tiles, clay, other), window type (closed, open, no window, partially open, other), presence of nets (not present, present on all windows, present on some windows, other, missing), main drinking water source (closed, open), whether the open source was in the compound (yes, no, not available [NA]), and presence or absence of electricity. Participants were also categorized by parasite density: low (<2500 parasites/μL), medium (2500-9999/μL), high (10000-19999/μL), very high (>=20000/μL), negative, and missing.