IMPACT OF WEATHER AND CLIMATE ON MALARIA INCIDENCE IN F.U.T. MINNA

Abstract

Malaria is a vector-borne disease that affects millions of people worldwide, particularly in sub- Saharan Africa. Climate change has proven to be one of the key factors influencing the transmission of malaria, as it can affect the distribution, abundance, and behaviour of the female anopheles mosquito. This study aim to assess the influence of weather and climate on the occurrence of malaria and employed the use of quantitative data collection method and Pearson correlation analysis. Malaria and meteorological data were obtained from the Federal University of Technology, Minna clinics, and the Upper River Basin Authority over six years (2016-2021). The study revealed that the total rainfall received was about 8578.06mm with a 0.850 correlation value, depicting a significant level of impact of rainfall on the occurrence of malaria. The average monthly temperature was 31.12°c with a correlation value of 0.105, while the maximum relative humidity was about 87.880 with a correlation value of 0.072, both indicating a weak positive relationship on malaria occurrences. The study shows that the increase in temperature, humidity, and rainfall observed over the six years has influenced the abundance and distribution of the anopheles mosquito, which in turn has resulted in a higher incidence of malaria cases in the institution. Consequently, interventions aimed at mitigating the impact of malaria on students and staff such as the provision of insecticide-treated nets, indoor and outdoor spraying, awareness campaigns, and environmental sanitation practices should be implemented around the school by the university authority.