Dynamics of <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> Parasitaemia and Uncomplicated Malaria among School-Age Children living in Omoku, Southern Nigeria

Abstract

This cross-sectional study determined the mean parasitaemia and prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites among school-aged children in Omoku, Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area, Rivers State, Southern Nigeria. A total of 200 blood samples were randomly collected through convenience sampling method from the study subjects. Malaria diagnosis was carried out using standard parasitological techniques. The demographic data of the subjects showed that more females, 126(63%), were examined compared with males, 74(37%). Overall prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum recorded was 49%. Gender-based prevalence showed that more females were infected 58(29%) with mean parasite density of 16524(1611) parasites/μL of blood than males, 40 (20%) with mean parasite density of 14886(1794) parasites/μL of blood. The difference in prevalence between them was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Age-related prevalence showed that those within the age range of 5 to 7 years had the highest prevalence, 48(24%), with mean parasite density of 14909(1244) parasites/μL of blood, followed by those within the age range of 8 to 10 years, 34(17%), with mean parasite density of 11434(1244) parasites/μL of blood, while those within the age range of 11 to 13 years had the lowest prevalence, 16(8%), with mean parasite density of 5067(568) parasites/μL of blood. However, the difference between them was not statistically significant (P >0.05). The prevalence of malaria based on schools attended by the subjects showed that BMA had the highest, 12%, and mean parasite density of 6995(827) parasites/μL of blood, while SIS, and EIS had the lowest percentage of infections, 8%, respectively (P>0.05).The association between mother’s level of education, household size and P. falciparum parasitized children was statistically significant (P<0.05). In conclusion, malaria is endemic in the study area, and among other interventions, scaling up investment in primary health care is necessary to effectively prevent, detect, and treat malaria in local communities.