Comparative prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in patients attending Okelele Health Centre, Okelele, Ilorin, Nigeria

Background: In Okelele, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, malaria remains an important public health concern with a little information about its prevalence. Objective: To determine the prevalence of malaria infection at Okelele Health Centre, Okelele, Ilorin. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study in which patients were diagnosed clinically with severe or uncomplicated malaria at the study site was conducted. Rapid diagnostic testing (RDT) for malaria and microscopy using Giemsa staining by thick and thin blood smears were done for study patients. Results: In this study, 200 malaria patients attending Okelele Health Centre, Okelele, Ilorin, were tested for malaria infection, with females having the highest prevalence rates and parasitemia density. The highest positivity rates were found in children <6 years while adolescents had the lowest prevalence rates. Socioeconomic factors of patients such as occupation and education played a major role in malaria prevalence. Conclusion: Although RDT is quick and easy to use, negative malaria cases gotten by RDT should be confirmed by expert microscopy to prevent misdiagnosis of malaria