Prevalence of Malaria Infection among School Children in Pankshin LGA of Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

One of the dreadful parasitic infections that ravages the lives of the very young and old in Sub-Saharan Africa is Malaria which is a serious public health problem. Hence, this study examined the prevalence of malaria infection among school children in Pankshin LGA of Plateau state. Nigeria. Blood samples were collected from 3000 participants between June 2024 - September 2024. Malaria parasites was determined from blood using Rapid Test Kit and the results were read after 15 minutes. The findings revealed that the overall prevalence rate of school children infected with malaria parasitaemia is 9(0.3%) under the study.  Out of three thousand (3000) subjects screened for malaria infection 1,420 (0.4%) were male while 1,580 (0.1%) were female. In term of age 0(0%) were between the age group of 6 –10 years while 9 (0.7%) were between the age group 11-15. In conclusion, low malaria infection was recorded and this might be as a result of frequent prophylaxis or preventive treatment going on in the study area, supply of mosquito treated bed nets and fumigation by the government and the study area weather condition. The study recommends patients with suspected malaria cases should have prompt parasitological confirmation of diagnosis, with either microscopy or MRDT, policy makers and the government should channel more attention to health education, continuous supply of mosquito treated bed nets, put in place good health care facilities and employ trained medical personnel in the study area for complete eradication of the parasite.