Malaria occurrence and awareness amongst <i>Almajirai</i> in some selected traditional <i>Qur’anic</i> centres of Kano Municipal and Gwale Local Government Areas of Kano State

Abstract

Malaria an infectious mosquito-borne disease of humans remains a great cause of poverty in Africa. This study aimed at assessing the occurrence of malaria Parasitaemia and anaemia among different aged group Almajirai in selected traditional Qur’anic centres residing in Municipal and Gwale L.G.As of Kano State. Total of 454 Blood samples from Almajirai of Municipal and Gwale Local Government Areas of Kano Municipal were examined for malaria parasitaemia (MP) using method for microscopic diagnosis of malaria parasites. Anaemia was diagnosed as mild and severe when Packed Cells Volumes (PCV) was below 33% and 25% respectively. Result of the blood (MP) from the two (2) local governments showed that only Plasmodium falciparum species, was encountered. The total positive sample recorded were 162 (35.7%). The highest occurrence 47.4% was recorded within 9-13 age group and the least 1.8% was recorded within 24-28 age groups in Gwale. Statistically no significant difference (P-value ˃ 0.05) was observed among the various age groups of the two local governments. Anaemia was compared between malaria parasitized and non- parasitized subject, anaemia was observed to be associated with the severity of malaria infection. Almajirai should be given free malaria treatment in all government hospital so that those who could not go to hospital due to treatment cost will avail themselves of such opportunities received quality medical care. There is need to introduce appropriate intervention strategies against malaria and its vector, as well increase distribution of Insecticide Treated Nets to Almajirai.

Keywords: Malaria, Almajirai, Tsangayu, Municipal, Gwale