Prevalence of <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> parasite among outpatients attending Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital in Kano state, Nigeria.

Abstract

Plasmodium falciparum, which is the most dangerous and widespread malaria parasite in Nigeria, Annually, malaria contributes to a global estimate of 124 to 283 million cases, leading to 367,000 to 755,000 deaths. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum among outpatients attending Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital in Kano State, Nigeria. Three hundred blood samples were collected and examined using both thick and thin Giemsa-stained blood smears. The overall malaria infection prevalence was found to be 34%. A questionnaire was employed to gather demographic information from outpatients attending the hospital. Regarding gender distribution, females 20% patient exhibited a higher malaria infection compared to males 14%, although statistical analysis revealed no significant differences. The prevalence of malaria varied across age groups, with those aged 21-30 experiencing the highest infection rate at 16%, while those above 60 had the lowest 2%. Educational status did not show statistical significance in relation to malaria infection, as patients with non-formal education had a higher prevalence of 13.7% compared to those with tertiary education. Concerning residence, rural areas showed a higher prevalence at 42.2% compared to urban areas at 23.8%, and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Occupation status also played a role, with farmers having a higher malaria infection rate of 12.7% compared to civil servants at 5.7%. The use of preventive methods showed a significant impact, where patients employing insect-treated nets recorded a higher prevalence at 14.7% compared to those using bushes and gutters at 6.0%. Malaria remains prevalent among outpatients attending Muhammad Abdullahi Wase teaching in Kano State, Nigeria, emphasizing the importance of targeted interventions, especially in rural areas, to mitigate the impact of Plasmodium falciparum infections.