Malariometric Indices among Nigerian Children in a Rural Setting

Abstract

Malaria contributes to high childhood morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. To determine its endemicity in a rural farming community in the south-south of Nigeria, the following malariometric indices, namely, malaria parasitaemia, spleen rates, and anaemia were evaluated in children aged 2–10 years. This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey among school-age children residing in a rubber plantation settlement. The children were selected from six primary schools using a multistaged stratified cluster sampling technique. They were all examined for pallor, enlarged spleen, or liver among other clinical parameters and had blood films for malaria parasites. Of the 461 children recruited, 329 (71.4%) had malaria parasites. The prevalence of malaria parasitaemia was slightly higher in the under fives than that of those ≥5 years, 76.2% and 70.3%, respectively. Splenic enlargement was present in 133 children (28.9%). The overall prevalence of anaemia was 35.7%. Anaemia was more common in the under-fives (48.8%) than in those ≥5 years (32.8%). The odds of anaemia in the under fives were significantly higher than the odds of those ≥5 years (OR = 1.95 [1.19–3.18]). Malaria is highly endemic in this farming community and calls for intensification of control interventions in the area with special attention to school-age children.

Variation in malariometric and red cell indices in children in the Mount Cameroon area following enhanced malaria control measures: evidence from a repeated cross-sectional study

“…The higher prevalence of anaemia in the ≤ five years group with decreasing severity with age is in line with previous studies that anaemia due to malaria is more severe in younger children in areas of intense transmission [25]. Children in this age group are more vulnerable to infection with malaria than others with severe and potentially fatal complications.…”

Differences in the Malariometric Indices of Asymptomatic Carriers in Three Communities in Ibadan, Nigeria

“…However, these studies only took into account urban areas with better quality housing and better access to healthcare facilities. However, in many densely populated urban slums where there is a high degree of poverty, malaria transmission remains high [5, 6]. Our study corroborates these findings with the urban area having the highest malaria burden with parasitaemia being positive and hepatosplenomegaly and anaemia being higher than in the periurban and rural areas.…”

“…We have shown a high incidence of asymptomatic carriers with more than half of the population studied being positive for malaria parasitaemia. The prevalence of asymptomatic carriers in this study is much lower than that from a study carried out by Udoh [5] in south-south Nigeria, who found a 71.4% prevalence, and from a previous study carried out in a rural community in Ibadan about 12 years ago, with a prevalence of 80% asymptomatic carriers [19]. …”

Malaria in the New-born as Seen at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital: A Retrospective Review

“…This is in agreement with the findings of related studies, showing that occurrence of malaria is significantly higher during the period of heavy rainfall in endemic countries of Sub-Saharan Africa [9,16,22].…”

“…The prevalence of malaria among neonates in this study is 61% and it is comparable to the prevalence rates between 61.1% and 71.4% as reported in previous studies in southern Nigeria [14][15][16] similar prevalence rates have been reported in endemic areas, with a high prevalence of malaria in the first three months of life. The occurrence of malaria in neonates have been attributed to congenital malaria as reported by Sotimehin [17].…”