SEROPREVALENCE OF MALARIA PARASITE IN UMARARI/JAJERI AREA IN THE AFTERMATH OF FLOOD DISASTER IN MAIDUGURI METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a parasite that infects female anopheles mosquito found in tropical and subtropical regions. This study investigates the seroprevalence of malaria parasites among residents of the Umarari/Jajeri Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Maiduguri, Nigeria, following a significant flood disaster. Malaria remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria, exacerbated by environmental factors that favor mosquito breeding. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 140 participants, including 44 males and 96 females, from whom blood samples were collected and analyzed for malaria parasitaemia using a rapid diagnostic test (Malaria Ag p.f/p.v Abbott). The findings revealed that 41.4% prevalence of malaria infection was detected, with a notably higher incidence among females (68.6%) compared to males (31.4%), with a chi-square value (χ2 = 0.25, df = 3, p-value = 0.213) where p<0.05. This study highlights the critical impact of environmental changes on malaria transmission dynamics and underscores the necessity for targeted malaria control strategies in flood-affected areas. The results contribute to understanding the epidemiological landscape of malaria in Maiduguri and aim to inform public health interventions to mitigate the burden of this disease in vulnerable populations.