Effect of malaria on rural households' farm income in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria is one of the commonest tropical diseases plaguing the African continent and the rural areas of the continent in particular. Hence this study was carried out to analyze the effect of malaria on the overall farm income of the rural households, the level of awareness and use of modern preventive measures of treating malaria in Ido Local Government Area, classified as rural in Oyo State. Stratified random sampling procedure was employed for the research survey in which the first level of stratification involved the random selection of one Local Government Area (LGA), the second level of stratification was that of selection of four villages and the third level of stratification was the selection of twenty five households each from the villages . A total number of 100 respondents were finally used for data analysis using both descriptive and multiple regression techniques. Low level of awareness, (56%), use of modern preventive measures (12%), poor sanitary conditions, and large household size (8 persons), were the major factors responsible for the high malaria incidence in the rural household. The increase in malaria incidence however had a significant effect on the health and farm income of the farmers through increase in the number of days of incapacitation of an average of 22 days and an income loss of N15231.50 during the days of incapacitation. The recommended policies arising from the economic implications of these empirical findings were that public enlightenment under the aegis of the "Roll Back Malaria Campaign" should be intensified in the rural areas in particular and treated mosquito bed nets provided at subsidized rates to rural households. Farmers on their part should keep clean environment. © Ibadan Biomedical Communications Group.