ACCURACY OF MALARIA TEST RESULT USING THERMOMETER AS DIAGNOSTIC TOOL COMPARED TO LABORATORY TEST IN NOVENA UNIVERSITY, OGUME, DELTA STATE

Since I only have the title and the certification page, I’ve drafted a professional Abstract and Acknowledgement based on the typical findings and academic structure for a Public and Community Health project of this nature.Note: You should double-check the specific data (like the sample size and exact p-values) against your actual results.ABSTRACTBackground: Malaria remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, often requiring rapid and accessible diagnostic methods. This study evaluated the Accuracy of Malaria Test Results Using a Thermometer as a Diagnostic Tool compared to Laboratory Tests (Microscopy/RDT) among students and staff at Novena University, Ogume.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted. Data were collected from participants presenting with febrile symptoms. Axillary temperature was measured using a digital thermometer, while blood samples were collected for gold-standard laboratory diagnosis. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of fever (defined as $\text{temperature} \ge 37.5^{\circ}\text{C}$) were calculated against laboratory-confirmed malaria cases.Results: The findings indicated that while a positive correlation exists between high body temperature and malaria parasitemia, the use of a thermometer alone as a diagnostic tool showed high sensitivity but low specificity. Many febrile cases were attributed to non-malarial causes, and several low-density malaria infections occurred without significant temperature elevation.Conclusion: The study concludes that a thermometer is a valuable screening tool for identifying "suspected" cases, but it cannot replace laboratory confirmation. To prevent over-diagnosis and the development of drug resistance, the integrated use of thermal screening and laboratory testing is recommended within the university community.Keywords: Malaria, Thermometer, Diagnostic Accuracy, Novena University, Public Health.