[01] Bernard Egwu Igiri, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria; Directorate of Research and Development, Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology, Zaria, Nigeria. [02] Paul Columba Inyang-Etoh, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria. [03] Iquo Bassey Otu-Bassey, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria. [04] Ofonime Mark Ogba, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria. [05] Stanley Irobekhian Reuben Okoduwa, Directorate of Research and Development, Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology, Zaria, Nigeria; Infohealth Awareness Department, SIRONigeria Global Limited, Abuja, Nigeria. [06] Gabriel Chuks Ejezie, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.

Malaria is a major public health challenge in Nigeria and causes negative impacts on the economy of the country and other endemic areas. Cross sectional Hospital base study to determine the prevalence and practice available for malaria prevention was undertaken among patients with febrile illness attending GOPD of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Shika-Zaria, Nigeria. Questionnaires were administered to subjects to obtained demographic data and venous blood sample was collected. Blood smear (Giemsa stained thick and thin films) were used for microscopic investigation of malaria parasites. The study revealed that, of the 216 febrile patients, 45.4% had malaria, of which, 35.7% were males and 64.3% were females. High prevalence of 66.7% was recorded in age group ˃60 years (X² =1.98, P˃0.05). Exactly 30.1% use mosquito treated net for protection against malaria, whereas 28.2 uses insecticide, and only 6.5% practice good sanitary. Plasmodium falciparum shows highest prevalence of 80.6% and no infection was cause by Plasmodium ovale. The study showed that the incidence of malaria among febrile patients was high in spite of various control measures. These data will therefore be found useful in planning intervention healthcare preventive programs especially on public enlightenment to strengthen and scale up various malaria control programs.

Malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, Giemsa Stain, Prevalence, Microscopic

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