Predictors of Malaria Testing Outcomes in Rural Western Kenya

Responsible for more than 200,000,000 cases and 600,000 deaths in 2012, the malaria epidemic continues to be a devastating international public health crisis. Although many current public health studies focus on the development and implementation of preventive measures to fight malaria, a growing body of research also emphasizes the importance of accurate, reliable, and cost-effective diagnostic measures to treat malaria, especially in the face of new, antimalarial-resistant strains of the parasite. In turn, health care policies designed to promote effective diagnosis and treatment of malaria should rely on sound epidemiological understanding of factors that influence: (a) whether a patient seeks care for malaria; (b) whether a clinician will test the patient for malaria; and, (c) whether that patient will in fact test positive for malaria. Using data from a rural clinic in Western Kenya, this thesis attempts to identify and analyze these relevant factors, considering, in particular, the influence of patient age, patient sex, and monthly rainfall.