Subclinical malaria infection among university of Maiduguri students: prevalence and parasite density

Abstract

Background: Despite several interventions, malaria continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Objectives: To determine malaria parasitaemia among apparently healthy university students. Methodology: THe study was conducted from September 2009 to March 2010 in University of Maiduguri, Borno State. A total of 500 students randomly selected from the residential hostel (public and private hostel) at the university campus were included into the study. The students were both in private and public hostel within the campus. All selected students were undergraduates. Subjects included in the study were those who had not taken malaria medication for at least 3 weeks. Each subject volunteered and gave informed consent through the use of structured questionnaire. Results: The age range was17-28years.The overall prevalence of malaria parasitaemia was 17.4% (87/500) and was similar among student resident in both public (16.8%&, 67/400) and private hostel (20%, 20/100) (p=0.58). However, the prevelance was significantly higher in age group 17-19 years resident in public hostels (43%. 26/60) than those resident in private hostels (25.0%. 10/40) (p=0.07).  Conclusion: Prophylaxis for malaria in such settings would be an efficient means of preventing symptomatic malaria.