Ogundeyi  S. B.¹ , Idowu  O.A.² , Fadairo  J.K.³ , Daniels  A.O.¹

1. Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria
2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
3. Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria
Author    Correspondence author
Journal of Mosquito Research, 2015, Vol. 5, No. 16   doi: 10.5376/jmr.2015.05.0016
Received: 24 Jun., 2015    Accepted: 25 Oct., 2015    Published: 25 Oct., 2015

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Ogundeyi S. B., Idowu O.A., Fadairo J.K.and Daniels A.O., 2015, Prevalence of Malaria Amongst Children 0 - 4 Years in Olugbo, Odeda Local Government, Ogun State, Nigeria, Journal of Mosquito Research, Vol.5, No.16 1-4 (doi: 10.5376/jmr.2015.05.0016)

Malaria remains the most important cause of childhood mortality and morbidity and accounted for 63.4% of all reported diseases in Nigeria. The present study is aimed at determining in the prevalence of malaria amongst children 0-4 years in Olugbo, Odeda Local Government, Ogun State, Nigeria. Olugbo, the study area is a rural community that consists of fifteen (15) adjoining rural villages, Obosokoto, Idi-obi, Eleta, Aralamo, Akide, Yakoyo, Ogbonsode, Olugbo, Alagbayun, Ilafi, Iyanbu, Koku, Gbagura, Aariku, Idi-omo, villages. A total of two hundred children 0- 48 months were recruited for the purpose of this study. Two millilitres of blood samples were collected by vernipunture. The blood samples were then preserved with an ice pack in a cold box before examination and was analysed using the Quantitative Buffy Coat analyser. The overall prevalence of malaria infection in the present study is 63.0%. The prevalence of infection across the age group is 37.74%, 77.63%, 76.74% and 50.0% for children aged 0-12,13-24, 25-36 and 37-48 months respectively. A significant difference (p< 0.05) exists between malaria infections across the age group of the children enrolled into the study. Free malaria diagnosis and treatment is recommended for children under five years of age.

Malaria; Children; Prevalence; Morbidity; Ogun State; Nigeria