Effects of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention in Children between Three Months to Nine Years Old in Dass Community, Bauchi, Bauchi Sate, Nigeria

Abstract: Background: Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) is a preventive strategy used to reduce the incidence of malaria in areas with high seasonal transmission. It involves the administration of a full treatment course of antimalarial drugs (sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and amodiaquine) to children under 5 years old, during the peak malaria transmission season. This study is aimed at evaluating the effects of SMC in the prevention and treatment of malaria in children aged 3 months to 9 years in Dass Community, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria. Methods: Descriptive survey research design was utilized for the study. The respondents consisted of three hundred and twenty (320) male and female children aged 3months to 9 years, seeking health care at Dass Town Maternity, who were conveniently and purposefully sampled. Their mean age was 4½ years and 62.5%% were females. Respondents’ demographics, knowledge, and effects of SMC were collected using questionnaires developed through the literature review. Pearson chi-square test was used to investigate associations between outcome variables and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant at (95%) confidence level. Results: (93.8%) and (90.9%) of the respondents had adequate knowledge of SMC and its protective effect against malaria respectively. There was a significant association between knowledge of SMC and respondents’ educational status in the following areas ‘prevents the development of malaria parasites in the bloodstream’ (p=0.0175). Conclusion: SMC remained quite effective in malaria management in children due to its success rate in parasitemia reduction. To reduce malaria socioeconomic burden, adequate enlightenment on the use of insecticide-treated bed nets should be advocated. Keywords: Malaria, Chemoprevention, Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, Amodiaquine, Seasonal. Title: Effects of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention in Children between Three Months to Nine Years Old in Dass Community, Bauchi, Bauchi Sate, Nigeria Author: Lami Madaki, Collins Onyeahiri, James, Iliya Kyamru International Journal of Recent Research in Interdisciplinary Sciences (IJRRIS) ISSN 2350-1049 Vol. 11, Issue 4, October 2024 - December 2024 Page No: 18-27 Paper Publications Website: www.paperpublications.org Published Date: 19-October-2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13955376 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.paperpublications.org/upload/book/Effects%20of%20Seasonal%20Malaria%20Chemoprevention-19102024-8.pdf