Prevalence and management practices of malaria in a rural community of Ebonyi state, southeast Nigeria
Journal Title: IOSR Journal of Pharmacy and Biological Sciences (IOSR-JPBS) - Year 2016, Vol 11, Issue 1
Abstract
A prevalence survey of malaria was carried out in Onicha-Igbeze, a rural community in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi state, southeast Nigeria. Thick blood films of 100 individuals in the community were used to determine the prevalence. A close ended questionnaire was also administered to 100 respondents in order to obtain information on malaria management practices of the people. The study was carried out between July and September which corresponds to the wet season in Nigeria. The prevalence rate was found to be 64% and all were infections with Plasmodium falciparum. The prevalence rates of malaria at the study locations within the community were as follows: Amanator Primary school (68.2%), Onicha General Hospital (56.3%) and Afoudo market, Onicha (66.7%). The prevalence rates by age groups were found to be 1- 10 (76.5%), 11-20 (54.5%), 21-30 (50%), 31-40 (57.1%), 41-50 (100%), 51 and above (66.7%). The prevalence rates by occupation were as follows: students (70%), civil servants (30%), farmers (72%), and traders (53.3%). Gender-wise, the males had a total prevalence of 67.9% while females had a total prevalence of 59.1%. The malaria management practices showed that 14% buy anti-malarial drugs across the counter, 8% attends hospitals, 14% use traditional medicine from local healers. It was found that some individuals use more than one method in their management of malaria. Those who combined anti-malarial drugs from shops with attendance to hospitals were found to be 16%, 12% combined anti-malarial drugs from shops with traditional medicine from local healers, 10% combine attendance to hospitals and use of traditional medicine from local healers, 12% do the three management practices, while 14% reported doing nothing about malaria. The high malaria prevalence in this community therefore calls for investigations on the causes of the high prevalence of this disease in rural areas of Nigeria and Africa in general. The fact that a good number of people buy antimalarials from shops calls for stronger commitment by various authorities to ensure that only genuine drugs are on our counters, and the observation that a good number of people use only traditional medicine from local healers to manage malaria calls for an in-depth basic and strategic research on this line of malaria management.
Authors and Affiliations
O. O Odikamnoro, I. M Ikeh,, C. A Uhuo, 2 F. N Okoh, S. C Ebiriekwe, 4 I. A Nnadozie
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- EP ID EP383256
- DOI 10.9790/3008-11116165 .
- Views 104
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