A Hospital Based Study Of Malaria
[IN NDIEGORO COMMUNITY, ABA SOUTH L.G.A. ABIA STATE]

CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 RESULTS
The results showed that 153 patients were positive for malaria parasite out of the 300 sampled. Therefore the prevalence of malaria was found to be 51.0% for the period between May and August, 2009. The prevalence of malaria with regards to age groups were found to be statistically significant (p<0.05)(Appendix 1), the age-specific prevalence rate was also found as follows: 74.3% for age (0-5) yrs, 58.3% for (6-15) yrs, 41.7% for (16-25) yrs, 50.0% for (26-35)yrs, 40.0% (36-45)
yrs, 45.0% for (46>) yrs. (Table 1). It was also observed that all the malaria cases detected were infections of only P. falciparum. No cases of mixed infections were identified.
More males 88 (58.7%) were found to be infected than females 65 (43.3%) out of 150 randomly selected male and female each from the sampled population. (Table 2). The sex specific prevalence were found to be statistically significant (p<0.05)(Appendix 2). The help-seeking behavior of the respondents was summarized in table 3
On the management practices of malaria, the following preventive measures were identified by the respondents: Door/window (10.70%), insecticide bed nets (treated and untreated)(9.00%), cover cloth (11.70%), Mosquito repellant/insecticidal spray (23.00%), environmental sanitation (16.70%), using fan (21.70%) and 1.70% did nothing to prevent mosquito bite (Ta
The treatment methods of the sampled population was found to include: Buying of anti-malarial drugs from chemist shops, attending local hospitals, use of traditional medicine (herbs), while few have no management at all. Of the 300 patients sampled, 79 (27.6%) buy anti-malarial drugs from chemist without prescription, 34 (12.0%) attend hospitals while 60 (21.1%) use traditional medicine (herbs) in their treatment of malaria. It was also found that some individuals use more than one method in the treatment of malaria. 24 (8.3%) combined the use of traditional medicine and attend hospitals, 41 (14.4%) combined the use of anti malarial and traditional medicine and 21 (7.4%) combined the use of anti-malarial and attend hospital. It was also observed that the practice of using more than one method was by trial and error means and not that they are used concurrently. 12 (4.2%) of the respondents did nothing about treatment of malaria (table 4)
Results on the influence of educational background in the malaria management of the people are summarized in Table 5. Of the 300 individuals sampled, 106 (37.2%) had informal education, 63(22.1%) had primary education, 73(25.6%) had secondary education and 43(15.1%) had tertiary education. It was observed that the highest percentage of those who attend hospitals to treat malaria had secondary and tertiary education while the highest percentage of those who buy anti-malarial drugs over the counter and as well use traditional medicine form healers had informal or primary education.