Prevalence, intensity and vector dynamics of malaria in Anambra east local government area of Anambra State, Nigeria

The prevalence, intensity and some vector dynamics of malaria in two communities of Anambra East Local Government Area LGA was carried out using standard parasitological and entomological techniques for rapid assessment of malaria infection, level of parasitaemia and morphological features of mosquitoes. Results showed an overall malaria RDT (Rapid Diagnostic Test) prevalence of 22% and community based prevalence of 13 (30%) and 22(24%) for Umuoba -Anam and Nando respectively. Overall, age related prevalence in the Anambra West LGA showed that the age bracket 35 to 42 years had the highest malaria prevalence 3(42.9 %). Overall sex related prevalence in Anambra East LGA showed no statistical significance in prevalence among males (12.0%) and females (10.0%) (P<0.05). The intensity of malaria infection from each of the communities revealed that both low (50-500 parasites/ µl) and medium (>500-2000 parasites/µl) parasitaemia. There was no high parasitaemia recorded in Umuoba-Anam. Overall, a total of 225 mosquitoes were encountered with anopheles making up 61%. A hundred and twenty one (53.8% of the total mosquito population in the study was found to be unfed with blood meal whereas 54(24%) and 50 (22.2%) were freshly and previously fed respectively. One hundred and twenty one (53.8%) of the mosquitoes appeared non-gravid against 82(36.4%) that are gravid. The mosquitoes encountered were Anopheles gambiae 31(13.8%), Anopheles funestus 77(34.22%), and Culex Specie 117(52%). The two communities recorded variations in prevalence, intensity and vector dynamics. There should be intensified effort to continuously educate the masses on all the strategies of malaria prevention.