Background: Effective control and management of severe malaria cases depends on a clear understanding of the local epidemiologicalfactors and specific clinical manifestations of the disease in the different endemic regions.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of severe malaria and epidemiological factors that affect the development of malaria anaemia.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among children below 5 years of age, at the Adeoyo State Maternity Hospital,Ibadan, Nigeria. Questionnaires and case histories were taken from patients clinically diagnosed of malaria.Thus, 372 volunteers wererecruited into the study from the 3131 paediatric cases that reported over the10-week period to the out-patient department (OPD) ofthe hospital. 229 (61.6%) of the recruited volunteers presented with fever (>37.5 oC) at consultation.These had malaria parasite andPCV tests done.
Results: Clinical diagnosis was confirmed microscopically in 78% (290/372) for Plasmodium infection using thick film slides.Anaemia (PC
