Determining the Trends of Different Plasmodium Species in Children 0 - 2-Year Post Administration Sulfadoxine and Pyrimethamine in Selected Hospitals in the Metropolitan District of Sierra Leone
Arthur B. C. Garber1*, Esther Blessing Thomas1, Enoch Aninagyei2, Hamzza Kamara1, Salamatu Koroma1, Sorie I. O. Bangura1, Saidu Bangura1, Babatunde Duduyemi1 ,Isatta Wurie1, Mohamed Hindolo Samai1
1College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
2Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Health and Allied Health Sciences, Ho, Ghana.
3University of Sierra Leone Teaching Complex, Connaught Hospital Microbiology, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Citation: Garber ABC, Thomas EC, Aninagyei E, Kamara H, Koroma S (2025) et al. Determining the Trends of Different Plasmodium Species in Children 0 - 2-Year Post Administration Sulfadoxine and Pyrimethamine in Selected Hospitals in the Metropolitan District of Sierra Leone. SciTech Immuno-Microbiology 2025.
Received: December 13, 2025 Accepted: December 15, 2025 Published: December 15, 2025
Abstract
Background: Malaria is an alarming health concern, particularly in children under the age of two. Studying and understanding the trends of different Plasmodium species in children under the age of 2 aids in making prevention and control strategies and also prevents misdiagnosis of plasmodium species. This study aims to determine the prevalence and trends of different Plasmodium species in children 0 - 2 years in Metropolitan District in Sierra Leonepost administration of S-P.
Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study with One Hundred and Fifty-Five (155) participants aged 0 - 2 years who had taken Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine prophylaxis were recruited. Samples were collected from participants for malaria parasite test at key tertiary Hospitals in the Metropolitan District. A Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kit was used and for those participants with positive results, venous blood sample was taken for Microscopic both thin and thick film. Data was analyzed using SPSS. Results:From the total 155 samples collected, Ola During Children’s Hospital had a total of 64, Rokupa Government Hospital had a total of 47 and Kingharman Maternal and Child Health Hospital of 44. Ninety-nine (64%) of our participants are females while 56 (36%) are males. Ninety percent (90%) of the participants had P. falciparum infection and P. ovale and P.malariae were recorded in 1% each of the participants.
Conclusion: Majority of the participants had Plasmodium infections despite the administration of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine prophylaxis. More females were infected than males in this study and children in rural areas were more infected with malaria than children in urban areas. P. falciparum species shows the highest distribution in all three facilities.
Keywords: Plasmodium Trends, Plasmodium Species, Under-Two Children, Malaria, Sierra Leone
