Multiple correspondence analysis as a tool for analysis of large health surveys in African settings

Afr Health Sci. 2014 Dec;14(4):1036-45. doi: 10.4314/ahs.v14i4.35.

Abstract

Background: More than two thirds of the total population of Ethiopia is estimated to be at risk of malaria. Therefore, malaria is the leading public health problem in Ethiopia.

Objective: To investigate the determinants of malaria Rapid Diagnosis Test (RDT) result and the association between socio-economic, demographic and geographic factors.

Method: The study used data from household cluster malaria survey which was conducted from December 2006 to January 2007. A total of 224 clusters of about 25 households each were selected from the Amhara, Oromiya and Southern Nation Nationalities and People (SNNP) regions of Ethiopia. A multiple correspondence analysis was used to jointly analyse malaria RDT result, socio-economic, demographic and geographic factors.

Results: The result from multiple correspondence analysis shows that there is association between malaria RDT result and different socio-economic, demographic and geographic variables.

Conclusion: There is an indication that some socio-economic, demographic and geographic factors have joint effects. It is important to confirm the association between socio-economic, demographic and geographic factors using advanced statistical techniques.

Keywords: CA; MCA; RDT; malaria.

MeSH terms

  • Demography
  • Diagnostic Tests, Routine
  • Ethiopia / epidemiology
  • Family Characteristics
  • Female
  • Geography*
  • Health Surveys / methods*
  • Humans
  • Malaria / diagnosis*
  • Malaria / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Mosquito Control / methods
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Rural Population
  • Socioeconomic Factors*