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African Health Sciences
Makerere University Medical School
ISSN: 1680-6905
EISSN: 1680-6905
Vol. 12, No. 2, 2012, pp. 98-103
Bioline Code: hs12018
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge

African Health Sciences, Vol. 12, No. 2, 2012, pp. 98-103

 en Malaria parasitaemia among long distance truck drivers in the Niger delta of Nigeria
Erhabor, O.; Azuonwu, O. & Frank-Peterside, N.

Abstract

Background: Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria among long distance truck drivers in the Niger Delta of Nigeria.
Methods: A total of one hundred consecutively recruited long distance truck drivers aged 21-60 years, with a mean age of 42.36 ±5.23 years were screened for the presence of malaria parasitaemia.
Results: Out of the 100 truck drivers screened, 35 (35%) were positive for malaria while 65 (65%) were negative. Plasmodium falciparum was responsible for all cases of malaria infection. The highest prevalence of malaria occurred among drivers in the 51-60 years age group (40.5%). The mean and standard deviation (SD) of parasite load was 1 020 (125) parasites/ìl in subjects positive for malaria. The mean CD4 count wassignificantly higher among non-parasitized truck drivers compared to P. falciparum parasitized drivers 820 ± 42.0 (731-902 cells/ µl) and 570 ±30.0 (510-630 cells/ µl) respectively (chi square = 74.00; p = 0.03). We observed a significant negative correlation between plasmodial infection and CD4 lymphocyte count among Plasmodium falciparum-infected subjects with r = - 0.56 (p= 0.001).
Conclusion: Preventative strategies including regular chemoprophylaxis, intermittent preventive treatment with antimalarials and provision of insecticide-treated bed nets should be implemented.

Keywords
CD4 count, Malaria, Long distance drivers, Niger Delta, Nigeria

 
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