Geospatial Assessment of Malaria Health Risk in Kaduna North Local Government Area of Kaduna State

This paper examined malaria vulnerability using geospatial techniques in Kaduna North Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Data on malaria cases was obtained from Kaduna State Primary Healthcare Board. Satellite imageries, including Landsat 8 (OLS/TIRS) and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), were obtained from the United States Geological Survey Agency. Data analysis was carried out using spatial analysis on ArcGIS 10.8 and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The study revealed that Kawo, Hayin Banki, and Unguwar Rimi wards had the highest cases of malaria diagnosed using Rapid Diagnostic Testing (RDT). Using microscopy, Unguwar Sarki had the highest number of cases, with 2,591. On the other hand, Unguwar Rimi had the highest number of cases of malaria using clinical diagnosis. Among pregnant women, Unguwar Rimi had the highest number of RDT-diagnosed malaria cases, with 3,352, but Unguwar Sarki recorded the highest number of cases using microscopy. The hotspot analysis detected three malaria hotspots in the LGA with varying degrees of confidence (90% to 99%). The combination of AHP and weighted overlay in vulnerability mapping revealed that 56% of the LGA had high vulnerability, while 13% had very high vulnerability. Driving factors included proximity to water bodies, land surface temperature and elevation. The study concluded that RDT and microscopy are the most widely used malaria diagnostic methods. The study recommended that new housing projects should not be approved close to the water bodies to reduce malaria health risks in the LGA.