African Journal of Parasitology Research

African Journal of Parasitology Research | Vol. 1, No. 1, January 2010 | pp. 1–8
DOI: 10.46882/AJPR/100001

Article Type: Full Length Research Paper
Title: Prevalence and spatial distribution of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia among school-aged children in rural agrarian communities of southwestern Nigeria
Names of Authors: Adebayo O. Adeleke¹, Chinedu K. Okafor², Folashade M. Adebayo³
Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. ²Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Akoka, Nigeria. ³Department of Public Health, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.

Abstract: Malaria remains a major public health challenge across sub-Saharan Africa. This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence and micro-spatial distribution of Plasmodium falciparum infection among 1240 school-aged children (aged 5 to 14 years) across four rural agrarian communities in southwestern Nigeria. Blood samples were examined using Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood films alongside rapid diagnostic tests. Overall prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum was determined at 42.8 percent (n = 531), with geometric mean parasite density reaching 2450 parasites per microliter (range 120 to 45100 parasites per microliter). Age-stratified analysis indicated that children aged 5 to 8 years experienced significantly higher infection rates (49.2 percent) compared to older cohorts aged 9 to 14 years (36.5 percent) (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression modeling associated proximity to stagnant agricultural irrigation channels (odds ratio = 3.42, 95 percent confidence interval [2.15 to 5.44]) and non-utilization of insecticide-treated bed nets (odds ratio = 2.88, 95 percent confidence interval [1.81 to 4.59]) as independent risk factors driving high transmission intensity. Haemoglobin profiling revealed an overall anaemia prevalence (haemoglobin < 11.0 grams per deciliter) of 31.4 percent among parasitaemic subjects. These empirical findings underscore the localized vulnerability of agrarian child populations and highlight the critical need for integrated vector management strategies coupled with targeted school-based chemoprevention interventions to mitigate persistent malaria morbidity in rural settings.

Keywords: Plasmodium falciparum, Epidemiology, School children, Spatial distribution, Agrarian communities, Nigeria
Manuscript Timeline: Received: 12 October 2009; Revised: 18 November 2009; Accepted: 05 December 2009; Published: 10 January 2010

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