Malaria Risk among Internally Mobile Individuals and Heterogeneous Mobility Patterns in Two Hypoendemic Communities: Implications for Malaria Elimination in the Peruvian Amazon.
BACKGROUND: Human mobility is increasingly recognized as a key factor influencing malaria transmission dynamics, particularly in low-transmission settings approaching elimination. This study aimed to assess mobility patterns and their association with malaria risk in two hypoendemic communities in the Peruvian Amazon. METHOD: A longitudinal study was conducted in the communities of Libertad and Urcomiraño (Mazán River basin). Monthly population screenings were combined with weekly active and passive case detection. A total of 678 individuals were enrolled. Mobility patterns were assessed through structured questionnaires, and social network analysis was used to characterize travel connections. Log-binomial regression analysis was applied to identify risk factors associated with malaria infection. RESULT: Internally, mobile individuals in Libertad showed a higher malaria incidence (>32.47 cases per 1,000 person-months) than those in Urcomiraño (<10.15 cases per 1,000 person-months). Travel networks were mainly connected to Mazan district and Iquitos city, followed by local streams such as Armas and Arahuana. Mobility was primarily driven by family, administrative and occupational activities. Male sex (PR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.37 - 3.37) and age ≥15 years (PR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.24 - 3.19) were significantly associated with malaria infection (p-value < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Internally mobile populations represent a key high-risk group sustaining malaria transmission in hypoendemic settings. Targeted interventions focusing on mobile individuals should be integrated into malaria elimination strategies in the Peruvian Amazon and similar endemic regions.