Prevalence of Malaria among Children under the Age of Five: A Case Study of Ondo State, South West Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the burden of malaria in children under the age of 5 years in Ondo State, Nigeria. Hospital data from all the 584 Primary Health Care Facilities (Public Health Centres) across the 18 Local Government areas of Ondo State were utilized. Malaria data were downloaded monthly from the DHIS platform covering January to December 2021 and subjected to analysis. Analysis was done primarily using a preformatted Microsoft Excel template. The analysis focused on monthly trends in malaria incidents among children under 5 years of age and was structured to show disparity across the 18 LGAs of the state. The result revealed a high burden of malaria among children under five years of age in Ondo State. Incidences were consistently above 30% throughout the year except in December. The seasonal and regional disparity was observed, and the factors responsible were discoursed. Questions for further research were raised regarding the attainment of sustainable development goals.