Malaria diagnosis among children attending some primary health care centers in Keffi, Nigeria: A cross-sectional study

Malaria is a febrile illness caused by the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito transmitting the Plasmodium species. It is still an endemic public health disease especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, South-East Asia and South America. Nigeria, was reported to have the highest burden of the disease with 27% of the global malaria burden. 2ml of blood samples were collected from 220 children aged 0-17 years attending five Primary Health Centers (PHCs Angwan Wuje, Kofar-Pada, Guata, Angwan- Kaswa and Yelwa) in Keffi Local Government Area (LGA) to detect malaria parasites. First response Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits were used for the initial screening while thin and thick blood films were made and stained with Geimsa stain for microscopy. The prevalence of malaria using rapid diagnostic test kits (RDT) was 34.5% (76/220) while that for microscopy was 70% (154/220). The age range most affected for RDT and microscopy was 13-17 years (27.6% vs 29.9%) followed closely by 4-6years (25% vs 20.8%) and 7-12years (25% vs 19.5%), 1-3 years were (13.2% vs 15.6%) and < 1year (9.2%. vs 14.2%). Females were more infected than males at (57.9% vs 42.1%), but age and sex were not statistically significant (p>0.05). The age range most infected were those between 13-17years using both methods. The younger children 0-3 years where mostly protected with physical barriers like insecticide treated nets (ITNs) and its use was significant at p<0.05; 4-6years were the next with a high percentage of being infected as kids become more active and probably the uncomfortableness of ITNs make them restive. We advocate for more health promotion campaigns, enlightenment and preventive tips to be made as jingles, taught to parents and the growing children at schools, markets, health centers etc. so they don’t serve as reservoirs. More policies e.g. environmental sanitation and seasonal malaria testing, treatment and prevention practices should be made and sustained by government to enhance the fight against malaria as global aid is dwindling.