Perception of Fever and Plasmodium Infection Among Nomadic Fulani Children of Northeastern Nigeria.
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Abstract
Malaria is a deadly disease which is widely spread in the tropical regions of the world. This study was conducted to investigate mother’s perception of fever and Plasmodium infections in under-five nomadic Fulanis children of northeastern Nigeria. Two hundred and seventy two(272) mothers were interviewed on the perception of fever in 672 under-five children alongside measurements of ambient temperature. Blood samples of under-five children were analyzed for Plasmodium infections. Results show that 269 (98.8%), and 247(90.8) mothers of under-five children perceived prevalence and severity of fever in the nomadic Fulanis camps respectively. There was a significant association (X2, p<0.05) between mothers diagnosis of fever with clinical temperature. Similarly, Plasmodium infections showed a significant association (X2, p<0.05) with clinical temperature of under-five children. Plasmodium infections were detected among 247 (36.8%) under-five children. There was gender difference of malaria infections with more males 129 (37.0%) infected than females 118 (36.5%), although the difference was not significant (X2, p>0.05). Of the three clans investigated for Plasmodium infections, the Kiri clan had higher 145(44.8%) significant burden (X2, p<0.05) of Plasmodium infections with P. falciparum responsible for more than ninety percent of the infections. Mothers perception of fever in under-five children may still require laboratory confirmation. However, in the absence of laboratory diagnosis, perception of fever by mothers of under-five could still be used as a guide for the treatment of Plasmodium infections in the nomadic Fulanis camps.
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