1.1 Introduction
Malaria symptoms usually occur between seven and fifteen days after a mosquito inoculation. Signs and symptoms related to malaria infection are varied, but the majority of patients have fever. It is generally characterized by recurrent attacks with moderate to severe shaking chills, high-fever, profuse sweating during the fall of body temperature, general feeling of unease and discomfort (malaise). Other signs and symptoms are headache, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Malaria should be suspected in every febrile patient who lives or has traveled to an endemic area and in the differential diagnosis of patients who have fever of unknown origin, malaria should also be considered. Any patient with an untreated P. falciparum infection can rapidly progress to coma, renal failure, pulmonary edema, and death (MMWR, 2004).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Malaria still remains a significant public health problem especially in low and middle income countries. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), malaria transmission in Nigeria is abysmally high with over 76% of the population reporting more than 1 case per 1,000 populations annually. There was a less than 50% decrease in projected incidence of malaria from 2000—2015. Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo account for more than 35% of the global total of estimated malaria deaths.
Malaria is principally caused by protozoa (Plasmodium species) and is transmitted through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito (Mwangangi et al., 2013). Within the tropics and sub-tropics, human malaria is seen to be the most wide spread vector-borne disease (Ahmad et al., 2011). Available statistics have documented that malaria is highly endemic in Nigeria with over 90% of the populace at risk of infection. It is the prime cause of 60% outpatient consultation for all age groups and at least half of the Nigerian populace are exposed to at least one bout of malaria attack every year (Idowu J., 2012).
An integrative approach has been recommended to mitigate the spread of malaria parasites. One of such strategy or approach is the Integrated Vector Management (IVM) through a combination of biological and chemical methods. It is aimed at improving ecological soundness and sustainability for the control of vector borne diseases, improve efficacy and cost effectiveness (Zacchaeus and Amadi, 2012). From a triad perspective which includes the agent, host and environment, researchers and scholars have encouraged the source reduction, elimination and eradication of mosquitoes breeding sites by concentrating on the environment. These tend to be essential because, the proliferation of mosquitoes continually perpetuate the transmission of malaria. So, it can be postulated that if the sources of mosquitoes breeding sites is eradicated or eliminated, malaria would be drastically reduced. This implies that good environmental sanitation practices could help mitigate malaria transmission, promote healthiness and improve quality of life of the populace.
In its modern concept, environment includes not only water, air and soil but also the social and economic conditions under which we live (Park, 2011). The key to man's health lies largely in his environment. In fact, much of man's ill-health can be traced to adverse environmental factors such as water, soil and air pollution, poor housing conditions, presence of animal reservoir and insect vectors of diseases which pose threats to man's health. Often, man is responsible for the pollution of his environment through urbanization, industrialization and other human activities. Malaria is made up of types depending on the plasmodium involves. It includes tertian malaria caused by plasmodium, vivax fever, caused by plasmodium falciparum. The life cycle of malaria parasite involves the cycle in the blood of man and cycle in mosquito (Obueh, 2003).
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Causes and Effect of Malaria among Children from 0 to 5 years old in Benin City, Edo State.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that malaria has become very common and is increasing in an uncontrolled way throughout Nigeria and world as whole, due to the bite of the female anopheles mosquito which carries the plasmodium in an attempt to eradicate this deadly disease, a massive response need to be mounted by the government to enlighten the public about the prevalence of malaria. Also provide remedy for treatment of it.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to investigate the Causes and Effect of Malaria among Children in Benin City, Edo State. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To determine the prevalence of malaria among children between 0 to 5 years in Benin City, Edo State;
- To identify the various means the vector transmits the parasite plasmodium;
- To determine the symptoms and signs of malaria; and
- To examine the ways to eradicate the prevalence of malaria among children from 0 to 5 years in Benin City, Edo State.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Does lack of awareness contribute to the prevalence of malaria among children in Benin City?
- Does poverty encourage the spread of malaria among residents of Benin City?
- Can malaria lead to the death of children from 0 to 5 years old in Benin City?
- Can poor sanitation among the residents lead to prevalence of malaria in Benin City?
- Does the use of insecticides treated net prevent the prevalence of malaria among children in Benin City?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: The utilization of insecticides treated net does not prevent the prevalence of malaria among children in Benin City
- H1: The utilization of insecticides treated net prevent the prevalence of malaria among children in Benin City
1.7 Significance of Study
This research work is very relevant in several ways to communities, personnel, individual, and government.
The work will expose the prevalence of malaria and enlighten the community on t he effects of malaria among children in Benin City mostly in Benin City . Also it will proper measures for preventing this deadly disease. This study will also enlighten people on the signs and symptoms of malaria and how the parasite plasmodium invade the host body through the transmission by the vector mosquito.
The study will encourage the government of Edo State to swing into actions by creating various measures to prevent further outbreaks of malaria among the resident of the states.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the prevalence of malaria among children 0-5 years in Benin City. This study will cover areas and quarters in Benin City, as sample study where resident's opinion will be sampled. However, there is delimitation of this study to just 3 area as a result of time constraint and means of transportation.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Children: Plural child. Children are human who is not yet an adult.
Fever: Fever is an abnormally high body temperature and also the state of nervous excitement.
Malaria: Is a disease causing recurrent fever it is also a serious disease carried by mosquito to which causes periods of fever.
