Greener Journal of Medical Sciences ISSN: 2276-7797 Vol. 2 (3), pp. 051-063, June 2012. www.gjournals.org 51 Research Article Incidence of malaria among various rural socio- economic households Kelani Omotoso Ajadi* 1 , Hezekiah D. Olaniran 2 , Folami Munta Alabi 1 and David O. Adejumobi 3 1 Department of Urban and Regional Planning, The Polytechnic Ibadan, Nigeria 2 Department of Geography, the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria 3 Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, Nigeria. *Corresponding Author’s Email: ajadikoo2004@yahoo.com ABSTRACT It is shown from the literatures that malaria is a disease caused by a parasite that is transmitted by an Anopheles mosquito. The disease that is prevalent in the tropical or sub-tropical climates. In Nigeria, malaria causes the death of an estimated 250,000 children under the age of five every year. The study aimed at applying multi-linear regression method to analyse the socio-economic factors associated with malaria incidence among various socio-economic households in rural areas taking Akinyele local government as a case study. Using systematic and simple random sampling methods, 387 respondents are interviewed through the administration of structured questionnaire. Regression result shows a strong significant relationship between malaria incidence and socio-economic characteristics of respondents within the various households (R=0.258 at P<0.05). The regression model shows that household size β=0.258 at p<0.05 and religion β=0.123 at p<0.05 are the major significant factors influencing malaria incidence among the various rural socio-economic households. The study suggests the intensification of the teaching of family planning and health education, and the use of soap opera and staged play in local languages to disseminating essential information about malaria to the people. Key words: anopheles, rural, households, malaria BACKGROUND Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite that is transmitted by an Anopheles mosquito. The symptoms include fever, chills, headaches, muscle aches and general malaise (similar to flu symptoms). This disease is prevalent in tropical or sub-tropical climates (Freudenrich, 2011). In Nigeria, malaria causes the deaths of an estimated 250,000 children under the age of five every year. Malaria is responsible for about 66 per cent of all clinic visits in Nigeria. Health workers are sometimes forced to work overtime, and doctors and nurses can be on duty for over 12 hours a day (UNICEF/Nigeria/2009/). There have been several efforts, policies, programs across several countries of the globe in order to find the best method or combination of methods for control of malaria and other related social and environmental factors that influence the spread of the disease. Malaria transmission can be reduced by preventing mosquito bites by distribution of inexpensive mosquito nets and insect repellents, or by mosquito-control measures such as spraying insecticides inside houses and draining standing water where mosquitoes lay their eggs (Kilama and Ntoumi, 2009). Mosquito nets help keep mosquitoes away from people and greatly reduce the infection and transmission of malaria (WHO, 2004). However, the inexpensive mosquito nets are not a perfect barrier. Insecticides Treated Nets(ITNs) have been shown to be the most cost-effective prevention method against malaria and are part of WHO’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), but less than 2% of children in urban areas in Sub-Saharan Africa are protected by ITNs and this process poses a significant logistical problem in rural environment (Hawley, 2003,VOA News, 2004). Environmental planning is another potent method of dealing with malaria incidence. Environment is largely determined by cultural, socio-economic and ecological factors (Olokesusi, 1991). Thus, environmental stressors and supporters work synergistically to provide the necessary resistance to unclean environment and disease. The environment dictates the incidence and prevalence of diseases all over the world and if timely action is not taken, it may lead to infection. The action may involve proper planning of the environment. Hall (1974) described planning as “an ordered sequence of operations, designed to lead to the achievement of either