Impact of Malaria on Lifestyle and Agricultural Practices among Rice Farmers in South-West Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria is a major issue in the tropics, causing lost work hours, reduced production quality, decreased income, and even death. This study explored how malaria impacts the lifestyle and farming activities of rice farmers in Southwest Nigeria. Data were collected from 277 rice farmers through structured interviews and focus group discussions, focusing on socioeconomic characteristics, malaria incidence frequency, treatment methods, vector control practices, lifestyle changes due to malaria, and perceived effects on farming activities. Analyses included Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC), Chi-square analysis, Analysis of Variance, and Linear and Logistic regression. Findings revealed that 59.93% of farmers were male, 87.00% were married, and 33.50% had secondary education. The average age was 48, with an annual income of N557,813. About 40.07% reported monthly malaria incidents, and 71.12% used patent medicine stores for treatment. Many farmers (62.82%) killed mosquitoes manually, and 73.65% said malaria delayed rice processing. Most identified mosquito bites (92.42%), work stress (90.25%), and socioeconomic status (89.89%) as predisposing factors. Lifestyle changes due to malaria included skipping meals (85.92%) and self-medication (81.95%). Significant relationships were found between age and lifestyle changes (PPMC, p<0.05). Chi-square analysis showed significant associations between sex, marital status, education level, and rice cultivation type with lifestyle changes due to malaria. Linear regression indicated that marital status, household size, income, and farm size significantly affected perceived malaria impacts on farming activities. Logistic regression revealed a significant relationship between lifestyle changes and malaria carrier status. The study concluded that malaria significantly influences the lifestyle of rice farmers, recommending campaigns to discourage self-medication through media, healthcare personnel, and extension officers.