Prevalence of Malaria Parasite among Children in Adazi-Enu, Anambra State, Nigeria

Aim: Malaria caused by plasmodium parasites is a life threatening disease that are transferred to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of malaria parasite among children in Adazienu, Anaocha Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Methodology: The blood sample of the children were collected and examined using routine parasitological technique involving thick blood film microscopy. The Chi-square data analysis was carried out to determine the prevalence of malaria among children in the area and its association other factors. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. All analysis was carried out using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 Statistical software package.

Results: Out of one hundred and fifty (150) children examined, sixty-eight (68) were infected which gave a prevalence of 45.3%. Similarly, out of thirty-five (35) children within the age group of 3 - 6 years examined, 10 were infected, which gave a prevalence of 28.6%. Moreover, out of 39 children examined within the age group of 7 - 9 years, 17 were infected which gave a prevalence of 43.6%. Furthermore, out of the 36 children examined within the age group of 10 -12 years, 16 were infected which gave a prevalence of 44.4%. Finally, out of 40 children examined within the age group of 13 -15 years, 25 were infected which gave a prevalence of 62.5%. The prevalence of malaria infection according to the sex of the children showed that the highest prevalence was observed among the females where 78 were examined and 36 (46.2%) were infected while the least prevalence was observed among the males where 72 were examined and 36 (44.4%) were infected. The knowledge, attitude and practices to malaria observed showed that the people have average knowledge and practices about malaria.

Conclusion: There is need to prevent malaria infection among children as malaria in children can be fatal. Children should always sleep with protective clothing and use bed nets at night to avoid mosquito. The environments in and around the household should constantly be kept neat and overgrown bushes, stagnant waters should always be cleared to destroy breeding sites of mosquitoes.