THE STUDY SURVEYED THE PREVALENCE OF MALARIA AS WELL AS MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page

Approval page

Dedication

Acknowledgment

Abstract

Table of content

 CHAPETR ONE

1.0   INTRODUCTION 

1.1        Background of the study

1.2        Statement of problem

1.3        Objective of the study

1.4        Research question

1.5       Research hypotheses

1.6        Significance of the study

1.7        Scope and limitation of the study

1.8       Definition of terms

1.9       organization of the study

CHAPETR TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 introduction

2.2 conceptual review

2.3 empirical review

CHAPETR THREE

3.0        Research methodology

3.1    sources of data collection

3.3        Population of the study

3.4        Sampling and sampling distribution

3.5        Validation of research instrument

3.6        Method of data analysis

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

4.1 Introductions

4.2 Data analysis

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Summary

5.3 Conclusion

5.4 Recommendation

Appendix

Abstract

The study surveyed the prevalence of malaria as well as management practices adpted in Ndiegoro community, Aba South L.G.A., Abia state between May and August 2009. Purpose of Review Malaria is a prevalent disease in travelers to and residents of malaria-endemic regions. Health care workers in both endemic and non-endemic settings should be familiar with the latest evidence for the diagnosis, management and prevention of malaria. This article will discuss the recent malaria epidemiologic and medical literature to review the progress, challenges, and optimal management of malaria. Recent Findings There has been a marked decrease in malaria-related global morbidity and mortality secondary to malaria control programs over the last few decades. This exciting progress is tempered by continued levels of high transmission in some regions, the emergence of artemisinin resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Nigeria

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study

Malaria is the most prevalent tropical disease in the world today. Each year, it causes disease in approximately 650 million people and kills between one and three million, most of them, young children in Sub-Saharan Africa, Hay S, Et al (2004). Nigeria is known for high prevalence of malaria and it is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the country. Available records show that at least 50 per cent of the population of Nigeria suffers from at least one episode of malaria each year and this accounts for over 45 per cent of all outpatient visits,  Ojurongbe O Et al (2007). Malaria infection during the first five years of life is a major public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world (Trampuz Et al 2003). The disease accounts for 25 per cent of infant mortality and 30 per cent of childhood mortality in Nigeria thereby imposing great burden on the country in terms of pains and trauma suffered by its victims as well as loss in outputs and cost of treatments (Greenwood 2005). It has also been documented that children visiting their country of origin import malaria from Nigeria and other hyperendemic countries to the low and non-endemic countries .The disease is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. The most serious forms of the disease are caused by Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. The parasite is transmitted by female anopheles mosquitoes. Consequences of severe malaria include coma and death if untreated, young children are especially vulnerable. In endemic areas, treatment is often less satisfactory and the overall fatality rate for all cases of malaria can be as high as one in ten. For reasons that are poorly understood, but which may be related to high intracranial pressure, children with malaria frequently exhibit abnormal posturing, a sign indicating severe brain damage (Greenwood 2005). Malaria has been found to cause cognitive impairments, especially in children. Malaria causes widespread anemia during a period of rapid brain development and also direct brain damage and this neurologic damage results from cerebral malaria to which children are more vulnerable. Over the longer term, developmental impairments have been documented in children who have suffered episodes of severe malaria. Considering the above complications associated with malaria infection in children, this study therefore was carried out to assess the prevalence of malaria parasite infection among children between zero and twelve years of age in relation to attitudes and social pattern of living as factors affecting their exposure to malaria parasite infection. In all the endemic areas, the frequency of malaria is higher in pregnant women than the same women before pregnancy (Ebrahim, 1996). Malaria in pregnancy is a major public health problem with serious consequences to the women and the foetus. It causes severe maternal anemia, spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, premature delivery (gestation of less than 37 weeks), intrauterine growth retardation and low birth weight increasing rise of infant death, (Isma’il et al., 2000; Verboeff et al., 2001). Low birth weight is a well documented risk factor; along with poor neuro-sensory, cognitive and behavioral performance and achievement (Mc-Cormick et al., 1992). The interaction between HIV and malaria during pregnancy are complex studies. In Kenya and Malawi it was shown that the prevalence and density of malaria parasites are also found in HIV positive victims (Parise et al., 1998). The risk of infants dying during the post neonatal period has also been identified to rise higher in children born with HIV positive mothers and with placental malaria than in those born to HIV positive mothers without placental malaria (Bloland et al., 1995 and Nosten et al., 2007). Malaria is an internationally devastating disease and the burden of this disease fall heaviest among children below the age of 5 years in Sub Saharan Africa and 30% of annual mortality in population attributed to Malaria (AHRQ, 2004). Malaria increases susceptibility to other infections and retard growth and development in children. It is associated with considerable economic burden including direct loss to government productive work or education. Malaria killed Nigerian children every 30 seconds, hence, pregnant women and their unborn children are also vulnerable to malaria which serves as major cause of maternal anemia and parental death (Davidson, 2000)

• STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Malaria is one of the most important causes of morbidity in the world. It is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by a protozoan parasite, Plasmodium, transmitted from person to person, mainly through the bite of an infected female mosquito which requires human blood to nurture her eggs. The female anopheles mosquito is the vector for human malaria, and mainly bites human between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. In about 97 nations and territories in the tropics and subtropics, malaria is known to be a major health challenge where an approximately 214 million cases occur annually and 3.2 billion people are at risk of infection. An estimated 438000 deaths were ascribed to malaria in 2015, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where 90% of all malaria deaths occur. A nation that suffers the world’s greatest malaria burden, with approximately 51 million cases and 207000 deaths reported annually, while 97% of the total population is at risk of infection is Nigeria. In addition to its ongoing health effect in Nigeria, malaria is known to be responsible for about 60% of outpatient attendance to hospitals, culminating at 11% of maternal mortality and 30% of child mortality, mostly in children between 0 and 5 years. It is in view of this that the researcher intend to explore the prevalence of malaria in Nigeria as well as management practice

• OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The study has one major objective which is divided into general and specific objective; the general objective is to examine the prevalence of malaria as well as management practice in Nigeria, the specific objectives are;

1. To examine the effect of malaria on the health of Nigerians
2. To ascertain if there is any relationship between malaria prevalence and health workers management practice in Nigeria

• To examine the role of health practitioners in ameliorating the menace of malaria in Nigeria

1. To proffer suggested solution to the identified problem
   • RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions were formulated by the researcher to aid the completion of the study

1. Does malaria has any effect on the health and wellbeing of Nigerians
2. Is there any significant relationship between malaria prevalence and health workers management practice in Nigeria?

• Does health practitioners play any role in ameliorating the menace of malaria in Nigeria?
  • RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

The following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher to aid the completion of the study;

H0: there is no significant relationship between malaria prevalence and health workers management practice in Nigeria

H1: there is a significant relationship between malaria prevalence and health workers management practice in Nigeria

• SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is believed that at the completion of the study, the findings will be of great importance to the Nigerian populace as the findings tend to proffer solutions to the negative effect of malaria on the health of the populace, the study will also be of importance to researchers who intend to embark on a study in a similar topic as the findings will serve as a reference point to further study, the study will also be of great importance to health workers as the finding of the study will aid them in counselling patience on the dangers posed by mosquitos. Finally, the study will be of significance to student, teachers, academia’s, health officials and the general public as the study will contribute to the pool of existing literature and also contribute to knowledge on the subject matter.

• SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers the study surveyed the prevalence of malaria as well as management practices in Nigeria, but in the course of the study, there are some factors that limit the scope of the study;

1. a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
2. b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
3. c) FINANCE: The finance available for the research work does not allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the researcher has other academic bills to cover.

1.8 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

Malaria

Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases it can cause yellow skin, seizures, coma, or death

Health

Health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being in which disease and infirmity are absent

Health management

Health administration, healthcare administration, healthcare management or hospital management is the field relating to leadership, management, and administration of public health systems, health care systems, hospitals, and hospital networks in all the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors

1.9 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research question, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlight the theoretical framework on which the study its based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

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