Current State of Malaria Endemicity in Egor South-South Region, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND

Existing malaria endemicity classification puts Egor, as holoendemic. Some decades after this classification, there is need to determine the current malaria endemicity of the locale using malariometric indices of asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia and spleen rates.

METHODS

Descriptive cross-sectional survey involved apparently healthy school children aged 2-9 years; using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling technique. Malaria parasite was assessed by blood film microscopy and splenic examination was by bi-manual palpation method.

RESULTS

Of the 422 subjects, 126 had an asymptomatic malaria parasitic rate of 29.9%; and was observed more in children aged 5-9 years (30.8%) than in the under-5s; (27.6%). P falciparum was the only malaria parasite specie identified in the study participants. Splenic rate of the study population was 11.0%.

CONCLUSION

Malaria endemicity in the study locale is currently mesoendemic as against holoendemic prior to the study. Asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia is commoner in older children than under-5s, contrary to what was observed in previous studies.