Malaria Infection and Fever Management Practices in Rural Households in Yobe State, Northeast Nigeria

Inappropriate fever management practices, including self-medication and delayed care-seeking, contribute substantially to malaria-related morbidity and mortality in rural Nigeria. This community-based descriptive study examined malaria infection rates and fever management practices in rural households in Yobe State, Northeast Nigeria. A household survey was conducted among 300 caregivers responsible for children under ten years, and finger-prick blood samples from 260 available children were examined by rapid diagnostic test and Giemsa-stained blood film. A structured questionnaire assessed fever recognition, first-line treatments used, and healthcare facility utilisation patterns. Malaria prevalence among sampled children was 38.1 percent. Only 35.4 percent of caregivers sought formal healthcare first; the majority relied on analgesics and herbal preparations. Artemisinin-based combination therapy was used appropriately as first-line in only 29.2 percent of households where it was available. Distance from health facilities and perceived cost of care were the principal barriers cited. The study recommends community health worker-led malaria case management training and expansion of subsidised artemisinin-based combination therapy distribution networks in Yobe State. Keywords: malaria, fever management, rural households, Yobe State, treatment-seeking behaviour.