Studies were carried out on the social aspects of malaria among 600 students. Three hundred students (150 male, 150 females) were randomly selected from two tertiary institutions in Lagos, Nigeria. These schools are Lagos State University (LASU) and AOCOED (Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education). A structured questionnaire elicited relevant information on knowledge, perception and social aspects of malaria. Students aged 21-23, from faculty of arts and in their second year participated mostly in the study with no significant difference between the two schools. In LASU, 223(74.3%) and 211(70.3%) in AOCOED knew the cause of malaria (P>0.05). In LASU, 282(94%) and 192(64%) in AOCOED believed that malaria could be prevented (P<0.05). In LASU, 283(96%) and 283(94.3%) in AOCOED believed malaria could be treated (P>0.05). 109 (36.3%) respondents in LASU and 112(37.3%) in AOCOED thought that malaria was contagious (P>0.05). Fever was the most recognised symptom of malaria in both schools and self-medication was more popular in AOCOED. In LASU, 284(94.6%) and AOCOED, 273(91%) had malaria in the past one year (P>0.05). 146(48.7%) of the students who participated in LASU and 206(68.6%) in AOCOED had been admitted for malaria within the past one year (P<0.05). Class absenteeism and low academic performance were significantly higher in AOCOED than LASU. However, our results suggested that the LASU students were more informed about malaria than the AOCOED students because their knowledge and perception was better. The students, despite their academic backgrounds need intensified health education on malaria incorporated into their schools' curriculum.

Human host preference of female Anopheles mosquitoes collected from studenthostels of the Lagos State University (LASU) in south Ã¢â‚¬Â western, Nigeriawas determined. Two hundred and seventy two (272) mosquitoes were collectedindoors out of which 219 (80.5%) female Anopheles were identifiedusing morphological characters. One hundred and thirty five (61.6%) femaleswere collected from male hostels whereas 84 (38.3%) were collected fromfemale hostels ( X2= 11.86 P<0.05). Engorged female Anopheles was identifiedby their swollen abdomens. The blood meals were analyzed using directenzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods . From the male hostels,human blood index (HBI) was low as out of 94 blood meals analyzed,only two (2.1%) fed on human , 2 on rats (2.1%), 4 (4.2%) on goat and fifteen(15.9%) were having mixed blood of rat, goat and human, whereas theremaining 61(64.8%) were not found fed on either of these host. The HBI ofAnopheles  Anopheles collected from male and female hostels respectively (X2=8.64 P<0.05.) The result suggested that female students were more attractedto anthropophagic Anopheles, and therefore more vulnerable to acquiremalaria infection.collected from female hostels was significantly higher as 37(63.9%) mosquitoes were found fed on human, with 2 (3.4%) having mixedblood of human , rat and goat. The study indicated HBI of 18% and 67.2%from