Malaria Epidemiology and Control among Under-Five Children in Northeastern Nigeria
Abstract:
In Nigeria, malaria continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and
mortality among children under five, with disproportionate effects in areas
affected by violence. The findings and discussion of a doctoral thesis conducted
in the Jere Local Government Area (LGA), Borno State, are presented in this
study as a publication-ready synthesis. Multistage cluster sampling was used to
gather data from 235 families with children under 5 through a community-based
cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic traits, malaria episodes, preventive
measures, treatment-seeking behavior, and surveillance performance were all
evaluated using structured questionnaires that were modified from WHO and DHS
assessments. To assess community outreach and reporting completeness, facility-based
surveillance records were examined. SPSS version 26 was used to perform
logistic regression analysis, chi-square tests, and descriptive statistics. Over
95% of households reported at least one malaria episode in the six months
prior, indicating a persistently high malaria burden. Insecticide-treated nets
(ITNs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) were reported to have high preventive
coverage; however, symptom-based evaluation was a major component of diagnostic
confirmation. Despite widespread community awareness of government and
non-governmental organization efforts, surveillance outreach and home visits by
medical professionals were scarce. There was no statistically significant
correlation found between the incidence of malaria and the age of caregivers.
The results show a dichotomy between persistent hyperendemic transmission and
high knowledge and reported preventative coverage. Achieving significant
reductions in the malaria burden among children under five in conflict-affected
areas requires bolstering community-based case detection, expanding
surveillance reach, and strengthening diagnostic confirmation.
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