Knowledge, Practice of Malaria Prevention and Malariometric Index Pattern of Children in Ogbondoroko Community, Asa L.G.A, Kwara State, Nigeria

Background: Malaria remains the world's most important parasitic disease of public health importance with an annual incidence of 247 million cases and nearly one million deaths, most of which affect children living in Africa. Young children with weaker immune systems and pregnant women with potentially compromised immune systems are particularly vulnerable to this disease and so are the highest risk populations for malaria-related deaths.

Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the knowledge, practice, and malariometric index pattern of children in the Ogbondoroko community, Asa LGA, Kwara State, involving 330 caregivers. The splenic rate was used as a malariometric index in children examined.

Results: The mean age of the children was 5.9 + 11.8 years, with 181 (54.8%) of those examined being males, while 149 (45.2%) were females. Most of the children’s spleens 263 (79.7%) were not palpable, 46 (13.9%) were about 3 to 7 cm enlarged, and 9 (2.7%) had an enlargement of greater than 7 cm. The majority of the caregivers (55.2%) had inadequate knowledge about malaria, with most of the caregivers currently practicing cleaning bushy environments and the use of drugs as preventive measures against malaria. Adverse health effects, allergy to the spray, and financial constraints were the major reasons identified by the caregivers for not practicing malaria preventive measures.

Conclusion: Knowledge of malaria transmission was poor among caregivers in the Ogbondoroko community, though the majority practiced preventive measures. The community was found to be mesoendemic.