Parasitology

Biography

Biography: Ukpai Onyinye M

Abstract

A total of 350 persons who attended the Medical Centre, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike from September to November, 2014 and who gave informed consent to be part of the study, with a demographic composition of 139 males and 211 females of different ages, had their blood samples examined microscopically for the presence of malaria parasites. Of this number 26.86% were infected. More males (28.06%) than females (26.07%) were infected. Infection was highest in the age group 61-70 years (83.33%) followed by the age group 41-50 years (58.06%). The most frequent illness reported to occur in the study area was malaria (52.28%). Responses from structured questionnaires administered revealed that many of the attendees had heard of malaria (95.71%) while (97.43%) had suffered from malaria before. The most common signs/ symptoms reported was fever (31.43%). Others included vomiting (15.71%); headache (11.43%) and body pains(11.43%). The cause of malaria was attributed to mosquito bites (68.57%); contaminated food and water (12.86%) and palm oil (11.43%). Preventive and control methods employed were the use of drugs (80.0%); use of insecticides (14.3%) and use of mosquito nets (5.7%). Different modes of treament reported were going to the hospital (77.1%); self medication at a chemist store (17.1%) and the use of local herbs(5.7%). It is recommended that residential environments be kept clean to prevent the creation of breeding sites for mosquitoes.