The Prevalence of Malaria amongst Adults in Remote Primary Health Care Facility in South-South Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria is a serious public health burden with high morbidity and mortality in Nigeria accounting for 60% outpatient visits, 30% childhood mortality, 25% infant mortality and 11% maternal mortality, respectively, in the country. Malaria is endemic in Nigeria with consequent high economic burden. Malaria is one of the leading causes of death in Nigeria. The prevalence of malaria is high in Nigeria resulting from several climatic, bioenvironmental and socio-demographic factors. Malaria prevalence is higher amongst dwellers with high poverty and illiteracy levels. The prevalence of malaria was evaluated retrospectively in this study using clinical records over 12 months in a remote primary healthcare facility in South-South Nigeria. The findings show varied malaria prevalence rates amongst the months, with 3 months below 50% and the remaining 9 months above 50%. The overall period prevalence was 56% (541/966). The high prevalence rate reported in this study reflects the endemicity of malaria in Nigeria and is consistent with other reports that malaria prevalence is higher in the south-south Nigeria than observed with other regions of the country. The study prevalence 56% is twice higher than the average national period prevalence of 23%.