Malaria prevalence, blood profile and risk factors for transmission in a peri-urban community, north-central, Nigeria

Malaria-related morbidity is a common occurrence in sub-Saharan Africa culminating in low productivity, and waste of valuable man-power. A cross-sectional study of a sub-urban community in Ilorin, north-central, Nigeria, was conducted. Malaria parasite detection and quantification was established using Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood films. Packed cell volume (PCV) was determined with hematocrit centrifuge and micro-hematocrit reader. Bio-data, socio-environmental and socio-demographic factors were obtained with pretested questionnaire. One thousand, one hundred and four (44.8% males and 55.2% females) inhabitants enrolled for the study with 63.86% harbouring varying degrees of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia. Specific point prevalence with respect to age groups were only significant (p<0.05) with age 6-10 and 26-30 respectively. 42.1% of the population were anaemic following established guidelines. More subjects concealed light infections with slightly higher mean anaemia in comparison to other groups. Education level, farming, proximity to stagnant water and sleeping outdoor was highly correlated with degree of infections (p<0.001). Five epidemiological factors predicted future malaria infections viz; outdoor sleepers (OR: 0.003, 95% CI: 0.001-0.006, p<0.001), domiciling within 50 metres of bushes (OR: 10.807, 95% CI: 8.067-14.479, p<0.001), use of insecticides (OR: 0.003, 95% CI: 0.001-0.004, p<0.001), proximity to stagnant water (OR: 0.516, 95% CI: 0.400-0.666, p<0.001) and drug efficacy (OR: 0.457, 95% CI: 0.354-0.590, p<0.001). Malaria still remains a public health debacle in Nigeria. Transmission largely depends on a complex interaction of the vector, physical, socio-economic, demographic and environmental factors, human biology and behaviour with malnutrition promoting anaemic outcomes.Keywords: Anaemia; Plasmodium falciparum; predictions; Ile Apa