Consequences of Malaria on Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State's Rural Households' Farm Income: A Nigeria Based Study

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Ogebe, F. O
Burbwa, P. A

Abstract

Malaria is one of the most occurring diseases in African continent especially in rural areas of Africa. It creates serious hazards for rural households'. This study focuses on the impact of malaria on productivity and income of rural households along with preventive measures taken by the Government with focus of Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. With a sample size of 200, data have been collected through a structured questionnaire. The result of regression revealed that majority (80.0%) of the farmers in the study area were male, married (49.0%) with one form of formal educational attainment or the other. Majority (85.0%) of the farmers were within the productive age group with average age of 46 years and mean household size of 11 persons. The mean farm size was 3.0 hectares and average annual farm income of N228, 022.50. Majority (47.5%) of the households are affected with malaria between 3-4 times in a year with an average number of 4 persons in a household and about 26 days of incapacitation. Surveyed households mostly used bed nets as protective measures against malaria attack which is believed to be best preventive measure as well as cheap and affordable. This study also suggested some of the steps to handle this situation like intensification of the "Roll Back Malaria Campaign”, use of mosquito nets etc.

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