Articles

Perceived Health Effects of Traditional Based Therapy of Malaria among Pregnant Women in Rivers East Senatorial District of Rivers State, Nigeria

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This study investigated perceived health effects of traditional based therapy of malaria among pregnant women in Rivers East Senatorial District of Rivers State. Utilizing a descriptive cross-sectional survey research design, 107, 938 pregnant women in total were included in the population. The Cochrane formula was used to determine the sample size, which came out to 728. A self-structured questionnaire called the Perceived Health Effects of Traditional-Based Malaria Therapy among Pregnant Women questionnaire (PHET-BMTPWQ) was used as the data collection tool. Utilizing Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC), a dependability index of 0.86 was attained. The outcome demonstrated that the grand mean rating of 2.91 SD 1.25 exceeded the criterion mean of 2.5, indicating that traditional malaria treatment had a physical health impact on pregnant women. The grand mean rating of 2.65 SD 0.99 indicated by the results indicates that traditional malaria therapy had an impact on the mental health of pregnant women. Additionally, the grand mean rating of 2.71 SD 1.10 demonstrated that traditional malaria treatment had an impact on pregnant women’s social health. Once more, the study’s results showed F(0.05,727) = 5.054 at 0.002, indicating that pregnant women’s perceptions of the health benefits of traditional malaria treatment varied significantly depending on which trimester they were in. It was determined that pregnant women’s physical, mental, and social health was significantly impacted by the use of traditional based therapy for malaria. Thus, among other things, it was suggested that the Ministry of Health run a program on health intervention regarding the risks associated with taking conventional therapy while pregnant.

Adulticidal Activities and Synergistic Effects of Citrus Aurantiifolia Peels and Hyptis spicigera Leaves Essential Oils against Anopheles gambiae s.l. (Diptera: Culicidae)

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Research on new plant-based insecticides meets the need for an alternative to address mosquito resistance to synthetic insecticides. This study assessed the adulticidal activity and synergistic effects of essential oils (EOs) from Citrus aurantiifolia peels and Hyptis spicigera leaves on female adults of Anopheles gambiae s.l. The extraction yields were on the order of 0.17 and 0.11%, respectively, for C. aurantiifolia and H. Spicigera EOs obtained by hydrodistillation. The phytochemical composition of the EOs was analysed by Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS).  GC-MS revealed that the essential oils of C. aurantiifolia and H. spicigera contained high amounts of monoterpene compounds (100% and 77.45%, respectively). Adulticidal activity was assessed using WHO and CDC bottle bioassays at concentrations of 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 mg/ml/btl. The EOs of both plants caused significant concentration-dependent Knock down and adulticidal activities. Individually, H. spicigera EOs had more adulticidal effects (LC50 = 4.42 mg/ml/btl) than did C. aurantiifolia EOs (LC50 = 6.79 mg/ml/btl). An EO mixture 25%Ca + 75%Hs from C. aurantiifolia and H. spicigera had synergistic effects (CI = 142.84; SF = 1.42) on female Anopheles gambiae adults. Combinations of the two plant EOs considerably optimize their insecticidal effectiveness.

Simulation of Mathematical Modeling of Malaria with Vaccination

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Objectives

General Objectives. To formulate and analyse malaria with vaccination.

Specific Objectives.

Formulation of malaria model with vaccination.

Estimation of model parameters

Numerical solution

To clarify the importance of vaccination through model parameters discussion.

Methodology: We build a model through a flowchart diagram. We simulate data which helps to find the parameter values that makes the model to fit to the data in order to verify the validity or adequacy of the model.  We use the least squares method to estimate model parameters and interpretation of it. We analyze the model by computing the basic reproduction number R0, the disease-free equilibrium point and endemic point. And also discuss the behavior of numerical solution.  We solve the model numerically using MATLAB software. Numerical solutions of the model are presented in graphical way that allows to visualize the model predictions.

Results: Model has shown that the vaccination rates reduce the basic reproduction number, which means that the vaccination are involved in eradicating malaria from the population. To control the spread of malaria disease, we introduced the herd immunity strategy which is concerned about immunizing a large number of people in population and take protective measures for the rest including children and also pregnancy women. Thus, we calculated the herd immunity threshold which is 0.0517, this value means that 5.17% of susceptible people has to be immunized to control the spread of plasmodium parasite.  Our model was fitted to simulated data which implies that the model can be used to control the transmission of malaria and to predict the mechanism of prevention by vaccination, it has shown that the vaccination strategy involves in eliminating malaria.

Unique contribution: Malaria is an infectious disease that has become very common and is becoming more widespread in an uncontrolled way throughout Africa, as well as the whole world, due to the bite of the female anopheles’ mosquito which spreads the plasmodium. In an attempt to eradicate this deadly disease, a massive response needs to be mounted by governments to enlighten the public about the prevalence of malaria and also provide remedy for treatment of it. On this issue, over the last few decades there have been millions of dollars and much efforts put into the fight against Plasmodium falciparum malaria but unfortunately there is still no registered vaccine against it.  Is the vaccination the best strategy to reduce the number of peoples dying from malaria? Many researchers worked on different model and they did not introduce the vaccination, in my model Introduce the vaccination to see if it is the best strategies to eradicate the number of people dying from malaria

 

Haematological Parameters and Oxidative Stress in Malarial Patients

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Introduction: Malaria has been in existence for so long and is responsible for worrisome health and economic impact in different parts of the world.
Objectives: The main objective of the study is to find the haematological parameters and oxidative stress in malarial patients. Material and methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in THQ Hospital Fort Abbas Bhawalngar during 2020 to 2021. The data was collected from 200 male and female patients. Participants remembered for the review were under-5-year-old youngsters, either conceded in the kids’ ward or going to any center on short term premise.
Results: The information was gathered from 200 malarial patients. There was a genuinely huge decrease in hemoglobin (p<0.005), platelet count (p<0.001) and all out leukocyte count (p<0.001) levels in patients with malaria contrasted with patients without the sickness. The level of neutrophils in the subjects with malaria was fundamentally higher (p<0.005) than in the non-malaria bunch. Conclusion: It is inferred that Low platelet count is a trademark finding of malarial contamination and thrombocytopenia might be more normal than weakness in intense malaria disease.

Current Status and Burden of Malaria in Pregnancy among Women in Some Selected Internally Displaced persons Camps in Maiduguri, Borno State

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Malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among displaced populations in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for an estimated 30 million women living in malaria endemic area become pregnant each year. Recent literature indicates that over 140 million people in Nigeria with 97% of the population are at risk from malaria infection. To assess the current status and burden of malaria in pregnancy among women in IDPs camps in Maiduguri, a cross sectional study on the relationship between pregnancy and malaria parasitaemia was conducted among pregnant IDPs women in Maiduguri. Of the 100 pregnant women enrolled in the study and screened for malaria infection, 40 (40%) were examined in Dalori camp, 37 (37%) were examined in Bakasi and 23 (23%) were examined in Aji ganaram camp. The prevalence of malaria infection among pregnant women based on different IDPs camps reveals that, 42(42.0%) out of the 100 pregnant women examined in all the three camps were infected with malaria parasitaemia. In Dalori camp 19(47.5%) out of 40 women examined were infected, while in Aji ganaram camp 16(43.2%) out of 37 women examined were infected, likewise in Bakasi 7(30.4%) out of 23 women examined were infected respectively. There is no statistically significant difference between camps and malaria infection (p˃0.5). Similarly, the prevalence of malaria infection based on age group. Of the sample examined 68 (68%) out of the 100 women examined were infected with malaria parasitaemia, the age group of <15 years had the lowest malaria infection rate with 2 (2.0%) and there was significantly higher prevalence rate of malaria infection  recorded in age group of 15-45 years old women with 66(66.0%). %).  However, prevalence of malaria parasitaemia based on marital status in study population reveals that 51(51.0%) out of 100 women examined were infected with malaria infection. There was significantly higher prevalence among widows with 29(54.7%), followed by 18 (48.6), and followed by 4(40.0%) in single (not married women) respectively. Chi-square analysis shows significant difference between widows, married, single and infection rate (p˃0.05).The study showed a strong correlation between age, marital status and malaria infection among pregnant women in IDPs camps. The morbidity and mortality burden of malaria in the study population among pregnant women in internally displaced persons camps could be reduced drastically by proper prevention strategies, good dietary feeding, good shelter and improving diagnosis.