ABSTRACT

Malaria is a life threatening vector borne disease, transmitted to human through the bites of infected female anopheles mosquito. The study on the status of malaria parasitemia and assessment of the awareness and use of long lasting insecticide treated nets in malaria control was carried out among Umudike community of Umuahia, Abia State. A total of 200 blood sample were collected for screening, questionnaire and observation were used to retrieve information from consenting individuals. Out of 200 individuals, 120 were males and 80 were females. The result showed that 180(90%) were infected with malaria parasite, 120 males examined 104(86.67%) were infected, 76(95.00%) out of 80 females examined. There is no significance difference among males and females(X2Cal = 0.19, X2Tab = 3.8, df (1) = P<0.05) Three species of plasmodium mainly P. falciparium, P. vivax, and P. malariae were encountered. The rate of occurrences of the species were 148(82.22%), 24 (13.33%) and 8 (4.44%) respectively. P. falciparium was the highest species in occurrence followed by P.vivax then lowest occurring plasmodium, which was p. malariae. There is significance difference in the prevalence rate of' malaria parasitemia in the occurrence plasmodium species among the patients (X2Cal = 126.78, X2Tab = 5.989, df (2) P <0.05). The prevalence rate among different occupation showed that farmer has 62(88.57%) followed by students 50(92.59%) unemployed 36 (90.00%) and civil servant 6(60.00%) The difference as the prevalence rate is not significant (X2Cal = 4.254, X2tab = 9.488, df (4) P> 0.05) About 130(33.33%) people associated malaria with mosquito bites. Despite the high level of awareness on 'the benefits of LLIN5only 40 (22.22%) slept under the net. Reasons for not using LLIN5includes their scarcity and high cost in the area, difficulty in setting it up, excessive heat generated under it, fear of chemical poisoning and preference of mosquito coils. Malaria is acknowledged to be the most important parasitic disease causing great suffering and loss of lives in tropical and sub-tropical countries. It also cause loss of useful man-hour of labour, the cost of treatment of patient and the negative impact of the disease make malaria a major social and economic burden. Public health education on treatment control, use of LLIN and free distribution in LLINsin Urnudike will greatly reduce 'the malaria situation in the area.