A Cross-Sectional Survey on the Impact of Malaria Intervention Measures on Prevalence and Vectorial Infection Rates in Parts of Imo State, Nigeria.

Abstract:

There is a dearth of information on the Impact of malarial intervention measures on vectorial infection rates in the study area. This study therefore investigated the Impact of malaria intervention measures on prevalence and vectorial infection rates in two Local Government Areas of Imo State, Nigeria. The study employed a cross sectional design involving 735 participants aged 5 years to >60 years, division of study subjects into four groups and was conducted between July 2023 and May 2024. Participants blood were collected and processed using Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs). Indoor resting malaria vectors collected by pyrethrum knock down (PKD) were assessed for parasitological/entomological indices with standard methods. Malarial intervention compliance was monitored and impact assessed by comparing results from different intervention measures/cohorts. Overall, pre-intervention malaria prevalence (26.12%) were five times significantly higher than intervention prevalence result 9.05% (P<0.05). All intervention measures Insecticide treated bednet (ITNs), Indoor residual spray (IRS) and Prophalytic drugs (Drugs) reduced malaria prevalence significantly (P0.05). Species from NICs; Anopheles gambiae (44.81%) and An. funestus (32.05%) were higher than those from ICs Anopheles gambiae (14.84%) and An. funestus (3.44%). NICs had more parous mosquitoes, ICs had comparable sporozoite rates (1.36% vs 2.06%), Entomological Inoculation Rate (0.099 vs 0.0331) and infectivity rates (1.05% vs 0.59%). In conclusion, this study suggests that malaria management efforts should involve integrated strategy that revolves on proper environmental sanitation and human behavioural patterns.