EXAMINATION OF BLOOD SAMPLE FOR THE PRESENCE OF PLASMODIUM SPECIES AND EVALUATION OF ANTI-MALARIAL DRUG USED BY AGP STUDENTS. (A CASE STUDY AGP CLINIC)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
This study aims to investigate the examination of blood samples for the presence of Plasmodium spp. and evaluation of antimalarial drugs used by students of Abdu Gusau Polytechnic, Zamfara State, Nigeria. Malaria is a mosquito borne infection disease caused by Eukaryotic protist of the genus Plasmodium. A total of 254 blood samples were randomly collected from students aged 10-50 years. Thick films were prepared and microscopic examinations carried out. In addition, structured questionnaires and consent forms were administered to the same students whose blood were being screened. The result showed that a total of 254 (77.95%) students made up of 89 males and 109 females were infected. The differences in infection were not statistically significant with the p-value 0.188 (>0.05) level of significance between the male and female confirming the high prevalence of malaria infection among the students of Abdu Gusau Polytechnic. Information from the questionnaire also revealed that antimalarial drugs used by the students include sulphonamides {Amalar®, (37.00%), Artesunate® and Artemisinin based combination {Coartem® and Camosunate®} (58.26%) and native herbs {mixtures of crude extracts from Moridalucida,Vernonia Amygdalina azadirachta indica leaves} (4.72%). Government should therefore intensify efforts geared towards control of malaria among students.
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