PREVALENCE OF MALARIA IN GENERAL POPULATION OF DISTRICT BUNER

Material and Methods: From March to August 2001. Total of 1020 blood films from 40 different localities of Distt: Buner was randomly collected from both male and female of different age groups (1 to 70) and were analysed in 40 different localities of district Buner.Results: Out of these, 70 individuals (6.86%) were positive for Plasmodium. The Plasmodium species found were P.vivax (5.78%) and P.falciparum (1.08%) with not a single case of mixed infections. Incidence was higher among the male (7.10%) as compared to female (6.52%). The higher rate of infections (11.58%) was found in age group 1-10 years and the lowest (5.19%) in age group 51-70 years. The highest rate of infections was recorded in August (11.66%) while the lowest rate of infection (3.98%) was noted in March. Slightly variation in prevalence of malaria was also observed in the four sectors A, B, C & D. The highest prevalence of infection (6.93%) was found in sector "C" where as the lowest infection (6.78%) was noted in sector "B".Conclusion: Malaria is a common health problem in Distt: Buner both P.vivax and P.falciparum exist. The higher rate of infection was found under the age of ten years (11.58%) and the maximum cases were noted in August (11.66%) while the lowest infection was noted in March the highest infection (6.93%) was founded in sector "C" where as the lowest infection (6.78%) was noted in sector "Bʹ\