Parasites, Hosts and Diseases

The Korea Society for Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (대한기생충학·열대의학회)
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Malaria Endemicity in the Rural Communities of Ebonyi State, Nigeria

  • Nwele, David Ekene (Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Science, Ebonyi State University) ;
  • Onyali, Ikechukwu Oliver (Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University) ;
  • Iwueze, Milliam Okwudili (Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University) ;
  • Elom, Michael Okpara (Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State University) ;
  • Uguru, Ogbonna Elom Sabastian (Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University)
  • Received : 2021.11.16
  • Accepted : 2022.02.22
  • Published : 2022.06.30
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Abstract

Malaria remains a global health threat. Approximately 97% of the population is at risk in sub-Saharan countries, particularly Nigeria. This study compared the performance of 2 diagnostic methods in assessing malaria endemicity in the rural communities of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. A total of 1,140 study participants were screened for malaria parasite using Rapid Diagnostic Test kits (RDT) in the field, while thick and thin films for microscopy were examined in the laboratory. Our result showed that malaria prevalence was 56.8 by RDT and 38.6% by microscopic test. Age group under 10 years had the highest prevalence of 28.9% (RDT) and 23.6% (microscopy), respectively. The highest prevalence of 19.5% by RDT was recorded in Onicha Local Government Area, while the highest prevalence of 13.4% with microscopy was recorded in Ezza North Local Government Area. The sensitivity and specificity of microscopic examination were both 100%, while those of RDT were 95.5% and 75.9%, respectively.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

We thank in a special way the traditional rulers of the study communities; HRH Eze Anthony Njoku (Okposi Umuoghara community), HRH Eze Ogbonnaya Ukwa (Igbeagu community) and HRH Eze Patrick Chukwu Ogudu (Onicha Igboeze community), and their town union leaders for their unalloyed support during the study in their respective communities. We equally thank Dr. Francis Onwe, the secretary Ethical Committee of the Ebonyi State Ministry of Health for his assistance in securing approval to carry out the study in the State.

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