Study of social determinants of malaria in desert part of Rajasthan, India.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES A longitudinal study on social determinants of malaria has been undertaken in different villages of Ramgarh PHC of Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan. The study aims to determine social determinants of malaria as applicable to existing cast groups of desert part of Rajasthan. METHODS Out of 940 households in five villages, 150 households of Rajput community (forward community) and Meghwal community (backward community) were selected at random to study whether due to different behaviour of existing caste groups, transmission of malaria and its intensity also vary or not. RESULTS It was found that magnitude of malaria was three times more in the Meghwal community as compared to Rajput community. In-migration of natives importing malaria was found to be prominent cause of more malaria incidence in the backward community. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION An intervention policy aiming to study existing status of knowledge among different caste groups of desert areas could lead to a substantial control over in-migration as well as further transmission of disease in the desert part of Rajasthan.