Malaria Awareness and Prevalence among Individuals Suspected to have Uncomplicated Cases in Rural Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria continues to be a public health concern in Nigeria. Factors that predispose individuals to malaria include environmental, socio- demographic, and climatic conditions, which may favour the development of malaria vectors. The incidence of malaria has been  significantly reduced by several intervention methods. This study aimed to assess the awareness of febrile individuals attending State  Hospital Iwo in Osun State, Nigeria regarding malaria. This study was conducted in 2022 from June to August. Two hundred and sixty-two  individuals with signs and symptoms suggestive of malaria were included in this cross-sectional study. On the same slide, Giemsa-stained  thin and thick blood films were prepared using approximately 2μL and 6μL of blood, respectively. A structured and tested questionnaire was used to collect the participant data. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.0. Of the 262 individuals  tested, 23 (8.8%) were  positive for malaria parasite infection. Loss of appetite and tiredness (35.9%, n = 94) were the major symptoms  reported. Patients aged 0–5 and 11–15 years had the highest prevalence (30.0%) of malaria (P > 0.05). Knowledge about malaria and malaria prevention comprised 90.8 % awareness, 56.5 % and 52.7 % ownership and usage of insecticide-treated nets, respectively, and  65.6 % of mosquitoes were vectors of malaria parasites. There were significant associations between the participants’ educational level  and the causes of malaria, malaria transmission, and malaria prevention. The level of malaria prevalence and awareness in this study  necessitated regular studies to track changes and provide adequate health education to enlighten the community.