PREVALENCE OF MALARIA PARASITE INFECTION AMONG UNDER-FIVES MANAGED AT IDDO SARKI PRIMARY HEALTH CENTRE, ABUJA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Malaria is an infectious disease, and a major cause of mortality in developing countries, especially in tropical and sub-tropical areas. To determine the prevalence of malaria infection among the children aged 1-5 years old who attended Iddo Healthcare in Abuja, Nigeria, between October and December 2023, a cross-sectional, observational and laboratory study was conducted. The total number of children involved in the study was 125, with parental consent. Structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data of the parents of the children. Microscopy was used to examine malaria parasite infection. The data obtained was analyzed using SPSS version 20. The prevalence data were obtained using frequencies and percentages. The overall prevalence of malaria infection was 80 (64%). Males (35; 64.8%) had a higher prevalence than females (45; 63.3%), and 3-year-olds had the highest prevalence (18; 69.2%), while 5-year-olds had the lowest (10; 52.6%). Children of farmers had the highest prevalence of infection, 33 (66.0%), and the lowest was 20 (60.6%) for children whose parents were civil servants. Children living in a single room had the highest prevalence of malaria infection, 26 (68.4%), while those living in a 3-bedroom flat had the lowest prevalence, 8 (53.3%). The findings from this research shows a high prevalence of malaria parasite infection among children ≤ 5 years in Iddo Sarki. Of this, the results found that malaria was present in the area with high prevalence, suggesting that there was active transmission of malaria and was endemic in the area. Environmental conditions are conducive to mosquito breeding, and so early diagnosis and treatment are needed. The knowledge gained from this study will help develop targeted interventions and strategies to curb the malaria burden among the vulnerable pediatric population in Iddo Sarki Village.