FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH MALARIA INFECTION AMONG PLANTATION WORKERS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW: FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH MALARIA INFECTION AMONG PLANTATION WORKERS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Mohamad Affiz Md Yusof; Muhammad Salihin Mahadi; Siti Nadzirah  Mohd Nadzir; Nur Farhana Mohd Anuar; Siti Nabila Azahar; Rahmat Dapari

doi:10.37268/mjphm/vol.25/no.2/art.2628

Authors

Mohamad Affiz Md Yusof Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 43400 Universiti Putra Malaysia Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
Muhammad Salihin Mahadi Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 43400 Universiti Putra Malaysia Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
Siti Nadzirah Mohd Nadzir Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 43400 Universiti Putra Malaysia Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
Nur Farhana Mohd Anuar Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 43400 Universiti Putra Malaysia Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
Siti Nabila Azahar Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 43400 Universiti Putra Malaysia Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
Rahmat Dapari Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 43400 Universiti Putra Malaysia Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37268/mjphm/vol.25/no.2/art.2628

Keywords:

factor; malaria; plantation; migrant; worker; infection

Abstract

Plantation workers are vital to the cultivation of crops such as tea, rubber, sugarcane, and oil palm; nonetheless, they face a heightened risk of malaria infection. This systematic review aims to present and systematically determine the factors associated with malaria infection among plantation workers. Relevant articles were electronically gathered from two different databases (PubMed and Scopus). This systematic review is prepared as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) updated guideline. Of the 117 articles identified, five were included in the final review. Several key factors associated with malaria risk among plantation workers were identified. These include male gender, being under the age of 31, outdoor employment, daily labour status, involvement in plantation or forest-based work, the habit of sleeping outdoors, consuming alcohol before bedtime, poor knowledge of malaria, a preference for going out at dawn over dusk, the use of damaged or no bed nets, and a travel history that includes absence during indoor residual spraying campaigns. Conclusion: Malaria risk in plantation workers is influenced by a range of sociodemographic, occupational, and personal factors. Inconsistent results were gleaned from the reviewed studies due to diverse study designs. Inter-sectoral collaboration and targeted interventions focussing on plantation workers, with emphasis on health education, distribution of insecticide-treated nets, and implementing mobile surveillance systems for remote workers, will contribute to informed strategies for malaria elimination. Future studies should focus on larger, longer-term participant groups and clear reporting for a more robust systematic review and meta-analysis, while interventions targeting these risk factors can significantly reduce malaria prevalence in this vulnerable workforce.

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FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH MALARIA INFECTION AMONG PLANTATION WORKERS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW