Seasonal and Environmental Factors Influencing Malaria Parasitaemia amongst Under- Five Children in Elele, Rivers State, Nigeria

The influence of seasonal and environmental factors on malaria parasite prevalence was investigated in Elele community, Rivers State, Nigeria. A total of 180 children, aged < 5years were studied and their mothers (women within the reproductive age group)were also recruited as respondents) in the Dry Season(DS) and Rainy Season (RS) respectively. Malaria parasite prevalence was significantly higher in the dry (87.2%) than in the rainy season (62.8%) (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between median parasite density in both seasons. Malaria parasite prevalence was higher in the individuals that had stagnant pools of water around their houses in the DS (OR = 12.9, CI= 2.8 – 81.7) and RS (OR= 2.8, CI= 1.2- 6.3). Inhabitants of houses surrounded by bushes also showed higher malaria parasite prevalence compared with those from cleaner surroundings. Environmental sanitation was significantly associated with reduced malaria parasite prevalence (OR=4.0, CI=1.4-9.7). Anopheles funestus (92.7%) and A.gambaie (7.3%) were vectors associated with perennial transmission of malaria in the area studied with A. funestus being predominant. The unusually higher malaria parasite prevalence in the dry season may be attributed to the higher indoor resting density of Anopheles funestus in the dry season. Moreso, lack of environmental sanitation activities may be significant risk factors for the malaria parasite burden in Elele.