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Health Implications And The Problem Of Malaria Among Adult
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background Of The Study
Malaria
has been the focus of multiple declarations, and a range of targets have
been set since the beginning of the millennium (WHO, 2015). In Africa`s
malaria endemic countries, an average of 30% of all outpatient clinic
visits are for malaria (Roll Back Malaria, 2008). In these same
countries, between 20% and 50% of all hospital admissions are a
consequence of malaria (Roll Back Malaria Partnership, 2013). With high
case-fatality rates due to late presentation, inadequate management, and
unavailability or stock-outs of effective drugs, malaria is also a
major contributor to deaths among hospital inpatients in Africa (Roll
Back Malaria Partnership, 2013). People are at increased risk both of
becoming infected with malaria and of becoming infected more frequently
(Roll Back Malaria Partnership, 2013). Families live in dwellings that
offer little protection against mosquitoes and are reluctant towards
affording insecticide-treated nets etc (Roll Back Malaria, 2011).
The
population at high risk of malaria incidence in Nigeria is estimated at
135,552,389 (WHO, 2015). The countrys’ confirmed and suspected cases of
Malaria incidence as at 2015, stood at 19,555,575 people (WHO, 2015),
with adults accounting for over 28% of the victims. Among vector borne
diseases, the malaria is influenced by seasonal or spatial changes in
the environment (Messina et al., 2011). Environmental factors such as
the presence of bushes and stagnant water around homes, rainfall, low
altitude and high temperatures favor the breeding of malaria vectors, as
well as parasite reproduction within them (Messina et al., 2011).
Malaria has, therefore, been defined as an environmental disease (Hay et
al., 2000). The key to addressing the challenge of reducing malaria
parasite prevalence is an integrated approach that combines preventative
measures, such as Insecticide Treated bed Nets (ITNs), Indoor Residual
Spraying (IRS), improved access to effective anti-malarial drugs
(Kokwaro, 2009), as well as proper environmental management. Climate has
been established as an important determinant in the distribution of
vectors and pathogens (Odetoyinbo, 1969). Tropical areas including
Nigeria have the best combination of adequate rainfall, temperature and
humidity allowing for breeding and survival of anopheles mosquitoes (Efe
and Ojoh, 2013). An increase in rainfall and temperature enhances
mosquito development and improved breeding sites leading to incidence of
malaria (Vincent and Sunday, 2015). Rainfall provides the breeding
sites for mosquitoes and increases relative humidity necessary for
mosquito survival, leading to increase in the number of mosquitoes
biting an individual per unit time (Lindsay and Martens, 1998). An adult
mosquito`s chance of survivorship is determined by the ambient
temperature, humidity and rainfall. Warmer ambient temperatures shorten
the duration of the extrinsic cycle, thus increasing the chances of
transmission (Jackson and Yang, 2010). Malaria pandemic alone has caught
the attention of both the local authorities and international agencies.
Several measures have been adopted to reduce the rate of morbidity due
to malaria. It is believed that climatic parameters had changed
significantly over the past two/three decades (Akinbobola and Oluleye,
2010). Hence, a deeper knowledge of environmental variables, conducive
to mosquito vector life cycle, is important to target control
interventions most importantly among adults. Modeling environmental
variables are very valuable in defining foci of malaria transmission.
The development of spatial analytical techniques has created an avenue
to evaluate environmental variables that are generated by remote sensing
satellite sensors and captured by Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
for spatial and temporal environmental analysis (Tanser and Le Sueur,
2002; Thomas et al., 2002). For an effective malaria management
especially, the knowledge of adults on how and where climatic and
environmental conditions favouring the development and spread of malaria
vector can be of great benefit to health management agencies, thus
enabling containment and treatment efforts to be focused where most
needed. A detailed survey needs to be carried out on the health
implications and problems of malaria especially among adults, which is
the major interest of this study.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]This study was carried out on the health implications and problems of malaria among adults in Nigeria. To achieve this 3 research objectives were formulated. The survey design was adopted and the simple random sampling techniques were employed in this study. The population size comprise of all medical staff of selected hospitals in Abuja. In determining the sample size, the researcher conveniently selected 65 respondents while 50 respondents were validated. Self-constructed and validated quest ... Continue reading---
