Prevalence of Malaria Infection among Children Attending Specialist Hospital Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Malaria is an urgent public health priority and has resulted families in a cycle of illness, suffering and poverty. This study was tending to determine the prevalence of malaria infection within gender, age of the children and in relation to socio demographic characteristics of parents/guardians. The study was hospital based and considered only out-patient children attending Specialist Hospital Yola from July to November 2015. Ethical Clearance was obtained. Thick and Thin blood smear were made and stained using standard parasitological procedures. Of the total sample examined, prevalence of malaria infection was 50.6%. Female subjects (54.9%) were more infected than the male (47.0%). Age-group 5 to 9 years (58.3%) recorded highest infection rate and was statistically not significant (p˃0.05). Children whose parents/guardians have others profession (60.0%), attended secondary education (53.4%) and resides in quarters (54.5%) had the highest prevalence rate but this was statistically not significant (p˃0.05). However, parents/guardians socio demographic characteristics such as occupation and place of residence have a great effect in reducing malaria infection among children which are the vulnerable group.