Evaluation of the Current Status of Malaria Prevalence in the Three Senatorial Zones of Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Purpose: The current status of malaria prevalence in three senatorial zones of rivers state was evaluated. There have been several intervention measures aimed at reducing the health menace of malaria in Rivers State by Government, international agencies and other stakeholders. This study was undertaken to assess the current status of malaria in the three senatorial zones of Rivers State with the view to maintaining the current intervention measures or otherwise.
 Methodology: A randomized block experimental design was used for this study. The research was divided into two (2) parts. The first part involved the production and distribution of self-structured questionnaire to the respondents to collect demographic information. The second part was laboratory examination which involved the screening of thick and thin blood films from participants to find the presence of the malaria parasite and calculate the prevalence. A total of 352 participants (110, 120 and 122 from Rivers West, Rivers Southeast and Rivers East senatorial districts respectively) seeking treatment at the zonal hospitals were recruited for the study. Venous blood samples were collected from the 352 participants and screened for the presence of malaria parasite using standard procedure while 352 copies of self-structured questionnaire were distributed to participants to collect data on some demographic characteristics.
 Findings: Out of the 352 participants examined, 275(78.1%) were positive for the presence of malaria parasites. Of the 275 infected persons, 94.6%, 77.5% and 63.7% were from Rivers West, Rivers East and Rivers Southeast senatorial district respectively. There was no significance difference (P<0.05) in the prevalence between males (78.4%) and females (77.9%). Participants within the age range of 21-30years and 31-40years had the highest and least prevalence of 84.5% and 65.9% respectively. There was no significance difference (P<0.05) in prevalence between singles (76.6%) and married (79.2%) participants. Level of education had no significance (P<0.05) impact on the prevalence of malaria among the participants. The prevalence of malaria in participants with no formal, primary, secondary and tertiary education was 74.1%, 82.4%, 74.1% and 82.7% respectively.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practices: The study revealed that malaria is still endemic in the three senatorial districts and remains a public health concern. Deliberate efforts form government and other stakeholders is needed to improve on the present preventive measures put in place especially in the area of sanitation and health orientation.