A Cross-sectional study on the Prevalence, Behavioural and Environmental Risk Factors of Malaria Transmission in Two Senatorial Districts of Cross River State, Nigeria

There is a dearth of information on the behavioural and environmental risk factors enhancing malaria transmission in the Cross River State. This study, therefore, investigated the prevalence of malaria and the behavioural and environmental risk factors enhancing malaria parasite transmission in four Local Government Areas in Cross River State, Nigeria. The study employed a cross-sectional design involving 400 participants aged 5-60 years and was conducted between August and November 2021. Thick and thin blood films prepared were examined using microscopy at ×10 magnification. A standard questionnaire was also used to collect data on socio-demographic and environmental factors. The overall prevalence of malaria infection recorded in the study is 18.2% (73/400). All malaria infections were observed to be caused by Plasmodium falciparum. The prevalence of malaria infection was higher in the age group 11-20 years (22.2%) (P<0.001). According to gender, males (23.3%) were more infected with malaria than females (12.9%) (P=0.007). An overall mean (±S.D) parasite density and parasites count of 250.00±18.80 and 15.60±1.20 parasite/μLof blood, respectively, was recorded in the study. In Calabar South Local Government Area (LGA), there was a negative correlation between the use of bed nets and malaria infection (r= -0.226) (P=0.024). Mud houses, use of bed nets, and the availability of refuse dump around households were significantly (P<0.001) associated with the presence of mosquitoes. A negative correlation was observed in the relationship between the presence of mosquitoes and the use of insecticide in Calabar South LGA (r= -0.390) (P<0.001). There was a negative correlation between the use of bed nets and the presence of mosquitos in Calabar Municipal (r= -0.286) and Obudu (r= -0.286) LGAs (P=0.004). In conclusion, this study suggests that malaria management efforts should take an integrated strategy that includes good environmental sanitation.