Malaria Prevalence in Rice Farm Settlements South East Nigeria
Emmanuel Ikechukwu Nnamonu *
Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, Department of Biology, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Ogonna Christiana Ani
Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Department of Applied Biology, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Felix Joel Ugwu
Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, Department of Biology, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Simeon Ikechukwu Egba
Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Department of Biochemistry, Abia State, Nigeria.
Ifeanyi Oscar Aguzie
University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Obiageli Panthe Okeke
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Department of Zoology, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Christian Enyi Dialoke
Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, Department of Integrated Science, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Lilian Obinna Asogwa
Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, Department of Biology, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Solomon Ikechukwu Odo
Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, Department of Biology, Enugu State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: Agrarian settlements in Nigeria possess a lot of factors that predisposes the populace to malaria. The present study focused on the evaluation of three-year prevalence of malaria in rice farm settlements, South-East Nigeria.
Study Design: The study was a retrospective descriptive survey designed to evaluate the prevalence of malaria infection between January 2015 and December 2017. A total of 29, 458 records were examined, 21, 559 and 7, 899 from Ebonyi and Enugu States respectively for three years (2015 – 2017). Male comprises 11, 453 of the records while the female was 18, 005.
Place and Duration: Southeastern Nigeria \ three years
Methodology: Preparation of thick films blood smears for microscopy following standard methods.
Results: Overall, 12, 746 (43.3%) were positive for malaria parasites, 7, 651 (35.4%) and 5, 115 (64.8%) from Ebonyi and Enugu respectively. Prevalence of the infection was similar between male and female in Ebonyi State (35.5% vs. 35.3%, χ2 = 0.044, df = 1, p = 0.834); but significantly higher in female compared to male in Enugu State (69.7% vs. 55.7%, χ2 = 154.808, df = 1, p = 0.0001).
Conclusion: There was high prevalence of malaria infection in rice farm settlements, south-east Nigeria.
Keywords: Malaria, prevalence, rice farms, farmers, South-east Nigeria