African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 7 (2), pp. 001-004, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research paper

Serum Levels of micronutrients and antioxidants during malaria in pregnant women In Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

M. F. Asaolu^1* and P. A. Igbaakin²

¹Department of Biochemistry, University of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.

²Department of Biochemistry, Adekunle, Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria.

Accepted 18 September, 2018

Abstract

The comparative effects of malaria on serum micronutrients and antioxidants were studied in two hundred and ninety five (295) pregnant women aged 20–43 years. The malaria cases were 195 while 100 served as controls. Serum levels of copper, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, vitamin A, folic acid, cobalamine and antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, carotenes, glutathione and superoxide dismutase were measured. Results indicate that malaria was associated with lower levels of both micronutrients and antioxidants in pregnant women. It may be concluded that malaria has a severe damageable effect on the micronutrients and antioxidants of pregnant Nigerian women with malaria.

Key words: Micronutrients, antioxidants, pregnant, superoxide dismutase, malaria.

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 7 (2), pp. 001-004, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

An evaluation of the use of insecticide treated bed nets among children presenting with malaria at a Nigerian health facility

O. A. Oyedeji¹*, P.O. Elemile¹, A. A. Adepoju² and G. A. Oyedeji³

¹Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.

²Paediatric Unit, State Hospital, Osogbo, Osun-State, Nigeria.

³Department of Paediatrics, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun-State, Nigeria.

Accepted 23 November, 2018

Abstract

The use of insecticide treated nets has been advocated for the prevention of the vector borne transmitted disease (malaria) by the World Health Organization and UNICEF for more than a decade now through the roll back malaria (RBM) program. In spite of this, malaria continues to significantly impact negatively on the health of Nigerian children, thus signifying no reduction in the transmission of the disease. This makes it desirable to obtain answers to some pertinent questions on the transmission of malaria such as, is the insecticide treated net preventive strategy recommended by the RBM being used, or is it ineffective? We therefore conducted this study in order to determine what proportion of children infected with malaria are using treated nets and the reasons for non-use among the non-users, with a view to generating ideas that will improve the use of this tool. Consecutive children presenting with malaria at the out patient unit of the State Hospital Osogbo, South west Nigeria, between July 1^st and September 30^th 2006 were studied. A total of 300 children made up of 158 boys and 142 girls were studied. The age range was 3 months to 13 years and the mean age was 2.3 years ± 0.1. Of the 300 children seen, 3 (1.0%) used insecticide treated nets, 14 (4.7%) used alternative barrier methods and the remaining 283 (94.3%) used none of the specified methods. The 4 alternatives used are untreated bed nets (8 subjects), insecticide sprays (4), mosquito repellant coils (1) and topical repellant creams (1). The reasons given by the remaining 283 children who failed to use any barrier methods were ignorance, unavailability, cost, considered unnecessary, cumbersome to use, refusal of child to sleep under the nets and allergy to the net in 240 (84.8%), 16 (5.7%), 11 (3.9%), 10 (3.5%), 1 (0.4%), 19 (0.4%) cases, respectively. Three (1.1%) parents gave no reasons. Maternal education was associated with greater use of insecticide treated bed nets ²= 9.77, P = 0.04, df = 4 (Williams criterion likely ratio applied). It is concluded that there is a need to enlighten the public concerning the use of insecticide treated nets. The treated nets also have to be made available and affordable in order to ensure that the nets get to households. Maternal education also improves the rate of use of this intervention.

Key words: Home based malaria, prevention, children, strategies.

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 7 (2), pp. 001-002, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Editorial

The Malaria and the vaccine candidates

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 7 (2), pp. 001-007, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Epidemiology of malaria and insecticide resistance burden in Nigeria

I. O. Oyewole¹*, A. A. Ogunnowo¹, C. A. Ibidapo², H. I. Okoh³, T. S. Awolola³ and M. A. Adedayo²

¹Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria.

²Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria.

³The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria.

Accepted 12 November, 2018

Abstract

Anopheles mosquito larvae were collected from the natural breeding sites in five of the six ecological zones in Nigeria between 2002 and 2004. The larvae were reared to adulthood in a standard insectary. Susceptibility tests were conducted on non - blood fed, 2 to 3-day- old emerged adult female mosquitoes using standard WHO procedures, diagnostic kits and test papers (WHO, 1998). PCR assays were used for the identification of the species and for characterization of the kdr allele. The mosquito samples from all the zones were susceptible to the diagnostic doses of insecticides tested, although, a significant level of resistance was recorded particularly in forest- savanna mosaic and Guinea savanna. However, there was no significant difference in knock down effects of insecticides in all the zones (F_{4, 15}=6.49, P=0.0001) . There was a level of correlation between the frequency of the kdr allele and frequency of resistance among the survivor and exposed samples (F = 22.05; P = 0.0037). This may indicate that kdr is associated with resistance in Anopheles mosquito to the tested insecticides. This study forms a baseline data for insecticide resistance status of the local anopheline mosquitoes which can be used to formulate control programmes in Nigeria.

Key words: Anopheles, malaria, pyrethroid resistance, Nigeria.

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-007, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Knowledge and practices relating to malaria in Ndu community of Cameroon: Signs and symptoms, causes and prevention

Dickson Shey  Nsagha¹*,  Anna Longdoh Njunda², Henri Lucien Fouamno Kamga², Jules Clement Nguedia Assob³,  Charles Shey Wiysonge⁴, Sarah Mboshi Nsagha⁵, and Alfred Kongnyu Njamnshi⁶

¹Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Medicine Programme, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.

²Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.

³Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.

⁴ School of Child and adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa.

⁵Department of Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.

⁶Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties (Dermatology and Neurology), Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon.

Accepted 14 November, 2018

Abstract

More than 90% of deaths due to malaria occur in Sub-Saharan Africa where it kills a child below five years every 30seconds. In Cameroon, malaria accounts for 40-45% of medical consultations, 57% of hospitalization days and 40% of mortality among children below 5 years. The objective of this study was to understand how people recognize malaria, its cause, prevention and modifiable risky behaviours that are important in planning approaches for its control. Questionnaire was administered to inhabitants of Ndu in a cross-sectional study. The respondent’s consent was sought and those who could not read, write or understand English language were communicated to in the local ‘Limbum’ dialect. Data was analysed using SPSS. Majority (97.6%) [95% confidence interval (CI): 95.7-99.5%] of the 253 respondents knew at least a symptom of malaria. The commonest symptom mentioned was headache (15%). Seventy (27.7%) participants knew the cause of malaria to be mosquito bites. Incorrect causes of malaria cited included bad whether (9.5%), curse from an elder (7.1%), witchcraft (3.5%), bad food (9.0%), unclean water (5.9%) and drinking alcoholics (2.4%). 153(60.5%) [95% CI:54.5-66.5%]respondents practiced a correct malaria preventive measure. Prominent correct preventive measures stated included environmental sanitation (21.3%), aerosol insecticides (10.3%), mosquito coil (7.9%), chemoprophylaxis (5.9%), mosquito net (1.2%) and traditional medicines (13.8%).Incorrect malaria preventive methods included avoiding the early morning hot sunrays (9.5%). Malaria prevention was related to the educational status of the participants (p=0.04). Proper health education messages on malaria determinants are required to improve upon the understanding of the disease.

Keywords: Malaria, knowledge, practices, cause, signs and symptoms, prevention, Cameroon.

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-010, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Studying physical and sociological environment of malaria to implement an indoor insecticide spraying campaign in Oueme region, Benin

G. G. Padonou^1,2*,G. L. Gbédjissi², H. S. Bankolé ³, H. Noukpo¹, A. Yadouléton¹, M. C. Akogbéto^1,2

¹Centre de Recherche Entomologique de Cotonou (CREC), Bénin.

²Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université d’Abomey Calavi, Bénin.

³Ecole Polytechnique d’Abomey Calavi (EPAC), Université d’Abomey Calavi, Bénin.

Accepted 10 November, 2018

Abstract

Malaria is among the main problems of public health in Africa. In Benin, indoor residual spraying (IRS) of bendiocarb has been proposed by the National Malaria Control Programme in the districts of Adjohoun, Dangbo, Misserete and Seme to help eradicate the malaria-causing mosquito. Prior to implementing an IRS program, a study of the local physical and sociological environment was assessed to identify the existing limits of this strategy. Cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2008. A total of 3,228 persons (adult male and female heads of household) were included in the study through systematic random sampling procedure for household survey. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were applied for data collection. The findings showed that the mosquito bite was the most feared (54.4%) for all districts. The most popular practices used for malaria treatment were traditional (56.3%) and modern (43.7%) medicine. IRS was accepted by 98.7% of respondents. Most of the walls (71.5%) were smooth and lend themselves well to the insecticide treatment. Habitats made of bamboo and straw were not appropriate for IRS due to pollution and poisoning risks. Free distribution of insecticide treated nets was the strategy recommended for households of these types of habitat.

Key words: Malaria-causing mosquito, questionnaire-based interview, indoor residual spraying (IRS), insecticide-treated net, Benin.