Malaria parasitaemia and socioeconomic status of selected residents of Emohua community, Rivers State, Nigeria
Journal Title: IOSR Journal of Pharmacy and Biological Sciences (IOSR-JPBS) - Year 2017, Vol 12, Issue 1
Abstract
:In Nigeria, malaria consistently ranks among the five most common cause of death in children. This study investigated the prevalence of malaria and socioeconomic status of someresidents of Emohua Community, Rivers State, Nigeria.Following ethical clearance which was obtained from the University of Port Harcourt and the parents of the subjects who gave their written consents, blood samples were collected through vein puncture from 200 subjects within the age 0-17years, from July 2014-February 2015. Structured questionnaire were administered to the subjects and parents provided answers for younger children.Thick and Thin films were examined microscopically using oil immersion objective following the standardparasitological method. The thin films were fixed with methanol and all films were stained with 10% Giemsa stain diluted with 7.2 buffer water for 10 minutes. The demographic characteristics of 200 subjects examined in Emohua showed that 120(60%) were females and 60(40%) were males. Sex related prevalence showed that more females were infected with 66(62.3%) and had higher parasite density of 144720/ul than males with 40 (37.7%) and parasite density of 106160/ul though the difference was not significant (P>0.05). Out of the 200 subjects examined, 106(53.0%) were positive for Plasmodium falciparum. Age related prevalence showed that subjects within the age 0-3years and 4-6years had higher prevalence of 62 (31%) followed by those within the age 7-9years with 31(15.5%) and the least with zero prevalence was within the age 16-18 years. Those within the age of 4-6years had higher parasite density of 71680/ul followed by 0-3years of age with parasite density of 63360/ul while those within the age 16-18yrs had none (0). The difference in prevalence of malaria in relation to age was significant (P<0.05). In relation to socio-economic status, Subjects within the lower class had greater percentage of 131 (65.5%), followed by high class with 45(22.5%) and the least was middle class with 24(12%). Subjects in lower class were more infected with the highest prevalence of 75(57.3%) and highest parasite density of 182800/ul followed by subjects in higher class with 21(46.7%) and parasite density of 48960/ul and the least prevalence of 10(41.7 %) with parasite density of 19120/ul was recorded in the middle class. The prevalence of malaria between the socio-economic class was not significant (P>0.05). Subjects that used treated net were more with 117(58.5%), followed by those that do not use net at all with 54(27%) and those whose nets were untreated with 28(14%). Only 1(0.5%) person believed in the potency of prayer as a preventive measure against malaria while none trusted environmental sanitation. Subjects that are non- net users had higher prevalence of 46(85.2%) and more parasite density of 98080/ul followed by the untreated net users with 22(78.6%) and parasite density of 77280/ul while the least prevalence was recorded among the treated net users with 38(32.5%) and parasite density of 75520/ul. The differences in prevalence of infection in relation to preventive measures was significant (P<0.05).More persons patronized patent drug seller 60(38.5%) followed by Hospital 52(33.3%) and clinic 44(28.3%) also more persons had non-formal education 92(59.0%) followed by those with formal education 61(39.1%) and those with none at all 3(1.9). Subjects that had formal education sought more treatment in the hospital 40(65.6%) than those with non -formal education 12(13.0%) while those with non-formal education sought treatment more with the patent drug seller 52(56.5%) followed by clinic 28(30.4%) compared to subjects with formal education 5(8.2%) and 16(26.2%) for patent drug seller and clinic respectively. Those with no form of education 3(100%) sought treatment with patent drug sellers. The differences in treatment seeking behaviour in relation to education was significant (P<0.05).There is need to improve socio-economic status and awareness for total compliance to preventive measures among the subjects so as to reduce the malaria prevalence rate to the desired zero level.
Authors and Affiliations
Abah, A. E. , Awi-Waadu, ,G. D. B. ,Nduka, F. O, Richard, A.
Keywords
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- EP ID EP387302
- DOI 10.9790/3008-1201011217 .
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