ABSTRACT
Background: Malaria still remains a life-threatening disease worldwide causing between 190 and 311 million cases of malaria in 2008. Due to the ever increasing resistance to malaria drugs, source reduction has been recognized as a complementary approach to further reduce malaria transmission. Given that the availability of suitable habitats for the oviposition of anopheline mosquitoes increases their breeding and possibly malaria transmission. We proposed that characterizing the breeding site of Anopheles is of major importance for the transition from malaria control to elimination in our study area. However, information on the oviposition sites, characteristics and influencing factors of breeding sites of Anopheles mosquitoes is lacking. This study aimed to determine the preferential oviposition sites, breeding site characteristics and related environmental parameters. Methods: A study was undertaken in Abraka, Delta State to determine the preferential oviposition sites of Anopheles mosquito and characterize such sites. Potential larval habitats that might harbor anopheline immatures were sampled between August and September. The larval sampling was done by the standard dipping method. The habitats were characterized based on substrate type, turbidity, habitat type, algal coverage, canopy coverage, surrounding vegetation, surface debris and distance to the nearest house. A two way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to test for significant difference in the occurrence of anopheline and culicine larvae in the different aquatic habitats sampled. Correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between the environmental variables and the occurrence of the anopheline larvae in the habitats sampled and also to assess the relationship among the environmental variables examined. Results: A total of 80 aquatic habitats in 8 sites were sampled and 1117 anopheline and 370 culicine larvae were collected. Microscopic identification of the adult Anopheles mosquitoes yielded only Anopheles gambiae. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the occurrence of anopheline and culicine larvae in the different habitats sampled, but there was significant difference (P<0.05) for habitat type distribution for anophelines only and culicines only. Correlation analysis revealed that the occurrence of anopheline larvae was correlated with some of the environmental variables examined. Conclusion: The results obtained indicate that Anopheles gambiae prefers open, sunlit and undisturbed habitats for oviposition and that abiotic factors play a vital role in larvae’s habitat preference. Thus such factors should be considered when designing an integrated vector control programs.
ABSTRACT
Background: For effective malaria control at the community level, information on the treatment practices are essential. However, there is no information on malaria treatment practices in Ibusa community. Thus, this study seeks to assess the prevalence of malaria and health care seeking behaviors in Ibusa community. Study Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government area in Nigeria. The study was untaken between June and November, 2006. Methods: Malaria treatment practices including sources of anti-malarial of the 600 individuals who visited the Fenlab Diagnostic and Research Laboratory Ibusa, Delta State were obtained using a previously validated structured questionnaire. Microscopy was used to establish malaria infection and species identification. Results: The prevalence rate was found to be 73.3% and all were infections of Plasmodium falciparium. The age prevalence showed an undulating pattern however, the prevalence was highest among subjects within age group 20-29 years (31.81%) and least in age group 40-49 years (8.64%). Chi-square analysis showed no significant difference (X2 =13.61, df=5, P=0.183). The prevalence by sex showed higher values in females (60.22%) than males (39.78%), but the difference was not statistically significant at (X2=0.027, df=1, P=0.870). The malaria management practices showed that 20.83% participants buy anti-malarials from shops, 17.33% visit hospitals, while 16.33% employ traditional medicine from local healers. However, some of the subjects employ a combination of approaches. 13.83% get anti-malarials from shops, hospitals and local healers, 10.50% get anti-malarials from shops and hospitals, 9.67% visit local healers and hospitals, while 0.33% do not employ any treatment practices. Conclusion: Given the high prevalence of malaria infection in Ibusa community, proper education of the people on the need to employ proper malaria treatment practice is essential.