A comprehensive mapping of malarial infections in children under 10 years in Kano Central Senatorial District, Kano State, northern Nigeria

Abstract

This study is a baseline to assess and map out the distribution of malaria infection using the prevalence level within the central senatorial districts of Kano State, Northern Nigeria. Blood samples were collected from 50 individuals’ aged below 0 - 10 years from which each of the 15 LGA. Thick and thin blood films were prepared and stained with Giemsa following standard procedure and examined for malaria parasites species identification. The overall prevalence of malaria was 40% and was caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Mapping of malaria using prevalence data showed level of endemicity that ranged from meso to hyper endemicity with a larger proportion of the LGAs (40.6%) being meso-endemic. In conclusion, targeted mass treatments of infections including asymptomatic ones are recommended as promising measures to reduce malaria surge.

Keywords: Mapping, malaria distribution in children under 10 years, P. falciparum, Kano State