MALARIA & HEALTH CARE PRACTICES
ABSTRACT
The study surveyed the prevalence of malaria as well as management practicesadpted in Ndiegoro community, Aba South L.G.A., Abia state between May and August 2009. Blood samples of 300 individuals who attended local hospital were examined using Giemsa stained thick and thin films, One hundred and fifty two (152) persons (51%) were infected with Plasmodiumfalciparum . The age group 0-5 years ( 74.3%) had the highest prevalence, while the age group 36-45 years ( 40.0%) recorded the lowest prevalence in the study. Males ( 58.7%) were statistically more infected than females ( 43.3%) ( p< 0.05 ). Structured questionnaire were also administered to obtain their management practices.
On the help-seeking behavior of the respondents more persons (63.4%) in the age group 0-15 years attend laboratories for diagnosis more often than those in the age group 16> (36.6%). More of the respondents resorted to patent chemist (27.6%) for treatment purposes. Visit to hospitals for treatment was the least patronized (12.0%). Some of the respondents combined more than one methods in their treatment for malaria. The use of prophylactic drugs( 6.0%) and insecticide treated nets( 1.8%) were the least preventive measures adopted by the respondents. This was due to the financial constaint and non-awareness of them. Malaria still remained a public health problem in Nigeria and data on its precise prevalence in some communities has remained unidentified.