Estimation of Cost of Treating Malaria among Arable Crop Farming Households in Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study estimated the economic cost of malaria and determined production and malaria related factors affecting farm revenue. A multi-stage random sampling method was used to select one hundred and twenty eight arable crop farming households from whom data were collected for the study. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, arithmetic indices, t-test of difference of two means and Ordinary Least square (OLS) regression method. The results revealed that an average household had nine members. About 6.5% of sampled households sought health care in the government hospitals, while 30.5 and 20% of the sampled households patronised patent medicines stores and traditional carers respectively. The sum of N7,415.41k was incurred as economic cost of malaria per household per annum in the study area. Farm size, hired labour, combined malaria treatment costs and days lost to malaria attack were significant factors affecting Farm Revenue. The study recommended priority attention to rural areas in malaria control programme; improvement in health care delivery system and incorporation of traditional medical practitioners in the health care system.