Epidemiology of falciparum malaria among residents of some rural and peri-urban communities in Ekiti State, Southwestern Nigeria

@#Malaria which is caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium is a devastating parasitic disease of major public health challenge worldwide, particularly Nigeria. This study was carried out to investigate the epidemiology of falciparum malaria among residents of rural and peri-urban communities in Ekiti State, Southwestern Nigeria. Standard parasitological technique of microscopy was employed to determine and identify parasite prevalence and species. A questionnaire was used to collect subject’s information such as age, sex, location, occupation and education. Out of the 300 individuals examined, a total of 283 (93.4%) individuals were infected with malaria parasite. Sex pattern of infection indicated that male had higher malaria prevalence of 95.0% compared to female with the prevalence of 93.3% (P>0.05). The age group 51 to 60 years had the highest malaria parasite prevalence of 100% while age group <10 years has the least malaria parasite prevalence of 86.0% (P>0.05). Similarly, a total mean malaria parasite density of 1455.90 parasite/μL of blood was recorded. The mean malaria parasite density does not significantly vary (P>0.05) among age and sex group. The age group >60 years recorded the highest mean parasite density of 2092.50 parasite/μL of blood while age group <10 has the least mean malaria parasite density of 1044. 42 parasite/μL of blood. In relation to sex, the highest mean malaria parasite density was found among the female (1461.80 parasite/μL of blood) compared to male (1450 parasite/ μL of blood). In the same vein, occupation as a socioeconomic risk factor play a major role with respect to malaria infection. The highest malaria prevalence of 113 (98.26%) was recorded among farmers while the least 34 (85%) was recorded among Civil servants (P<0.05). Thus, it is apparent that falciparum malaria is heavily prevalent in this study area and as such urgent management control measures and interventions should be made available and fully utilized.

The persistence of malaria in Khanh Trung commune, Khanh Vinh district, Khanh Hoa province and epidemiological characteristics of asymptomatic malaria

In December 2002, 445 households and 1832 individuals of Khanh Trung commune were interviewed and examined in a cross-sectional survey (approximately 85% inhabitants of the commune). The results showed that: The slide positive rate was 10.1%. The rate of asymptomatic malaria carriers was 77.2% of total malaria confirmed cases. There is a relation between people with sleeping in the forest and people without sleeping in its, OR=1.89, P=0.001. Ethnic group of Ra-glai infected with malaria (11.1%) and the age group which had highest rate of asymptomatic malaria was 5-9 years old 11.2%. Parasite density index of asymptomatic malaria group was lower than that of the fever malaria group

Epidemiological survey of malaria in Bac Kan 8/2002

In the first 7 months of 2002, the malaria status in Bac Can province were rather stable: the malaria incidence reduced 16%, there was no malaria outbreak, the morbidity due to malaria reduced. These activities to practice the malaria prevention plan in Bac Can: supervising malaria epidemiology, preventing vecto, propagating healthy education, educating training, systemizing report information, using materials expenses. The result of survey quality malaria prevention activities in Cho Moi and Mach Thong districts were low: Bach Thong district examined newly supplement smear pills, in which smear pill had more mistakes; Cho Moi district treated correctly 50% of checked case history