9 in 10 Nigerians say malaria most worrisome health challenge
- NOIPolls
- May 5
- 9 min read
Abuja, Nigeria. April 25, 2025 – In commemoration of World Malaria Day (WMD), which is held on April 25th every year, NOIPolls conducted a public opinion poll to find out the views of Nigerians regarding malaria disease. Findings from the poll indicate that most adult Nigerians (95 percent) believe that malaria is one of the most worrisome health challenges in the country[1]. This is corroborated by the World Health Organisation report, which states that Nigeria continues to lead the world in malaria cases and deaths despite decades of global and domestic investments. The 2024 World Health Organization reports highlight that Nigeria accounted for 26 percent of the global malaria cases, making it the most malaria-affected nation worldwide[2]. The report further reveals that out of the estimated 263 million malaria cases recorded globally, Nigeria accounted for 68 million cases, followed by DRC Congo with 33 million malaria cases[3]. This shows that Nigeria is among the 11 High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) countries, a group responsible for 66 percent of global malaria cases and 68 percent of deaths worldwide[4].
Further findings from the poll indicate that most adult Nigerians (74 percent) are unaware of any ongoing malaria prevention or elimination campaign in their community. Interestingly, 75 percent of respondents admitted that they or members of their household had treated malaria in the last three months. When asked if they ran a lab test to ascertain it was malaria, the poll result indicates that 69 percent answered in the affirmative, while 28 percent said it was self-diagnosed. Respondents were further asked the specific names of antimalarial drugs they typically purchase. The results revealed Amatem tablets (9%), Coartem (6%), and Lonart (6%) were the most frequently cited medications. Interestingly, over half of the respondents (52%) indicated they could not recall the name of the malaria treatment they usually buy.
To determine what action Nigerians take when they feel symptoms of malaria, the poll posed a question: “What do you do when you have symptoms of malaria? Findings revealed that half of Nigerian households (51 percent) reported that they go to the hospital. Other respondents stated that they visit Chemists (17 percent), Pharmacies (13 percent), take herbs (7 percent), and buy from hawkers (2 percent), while 2 percent self-medicate, with 1 percent respectively saying they either pray, run a lab test, or drink lots of water. Interestingly, 4 percent of Nigerians say they do nothing when they feel symptoms of the malaria disease.
Similarly, poll results reveal that 65 percent of Nigerians nationwide affirm they have an insecticide-treated net. However, 35 percent stated otherwise, with a greater proportion (30 percent) of Nigerians not knowing where to get one. Analysis by geographical location shows that the North-West (42 percent) and North-Central (38 percent) regions have the highest proportion of Nigerians who do not know where to get an insecticide-treated net. The 65 percent who stated that they have an insecticide-treated net were further probed to know if they slept under the net the previous night.
Findings show that more than half (52 percent) of Nigerian households report they did not sleep under the net due to hot weather. This is followed by 11 percent who feel uncomfortable sleeping under the net and 8 percent who believe no mosquitoes around as it is not the season for it, amongst other reasons cited.
Lastly, the poll also probed to ascertain if Nigerians are aware of the symptoms of malaria disease and preventive measures. The results indicate that headache (41 percent), body pain (31 percent), and high body temperature (29 percent) were the top-mentioned symptoms, amongst others. Similarly, when asked what to do to prevent malaria, the poll results show that a larger proportion of Nigerians nationwide mentioned sleeping inside a mosquito-treated net (46 percent). Other measures adopted include spraying insecticide routinely (25 percent), cleaning household surroundings (20 percent), and drainage of stagnant water (9 percent).
A report trend analysis reveals an increase from 2021 (45 percent), 2023 (50 percent), and 2025 (75 percent) in the proportion of Nigerians who treated Malaria in the past three months.
These are some of the key findings from the Malaria Poll conducted in the week commencing April 14th, 2025.
Background
World Malaria Day (WMD) is commemorated on April 25th annually to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment to malaria prevention and control. It is also a day to raise awareness regarding the need to unite and fight the menace malaria poses to the larger population of the world. The theme for World Malaria Day 2025 is: Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite. This theme aims to raise awareness about the urgent actions needed in the fight against malaria, emphasizing the importance of continued investment, innovation, collaboration, and commitment from the global malaria eradication community[5].
Globally, malaria infection continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality, especially among children and pregnant women. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that approximately 95 percent of malaria cases and 96 percent of all malaria deaths occurred in the African Region in 2021. Children under 5 alone accounted for about 80% of all these malaria deaths in the Region. In the same report, an estimated 247 million cases and 619,000 deaths occurred globally, and this suggests that we still have a long way to go to meet the 2030 malaria goals.
Nigeria is one of the countries in the world with the highest burden of malaria, accounting for a quarter of all cases in Africa[6]. It is estimated that more than half of Nigeria's population experiences at least one episode of malaria each year, accounting for approximately 30 percent of outpatient visits, 20 percent of all hospital admissions, and 10 percent of hospital deaths[7]. Usually, pregnant women are largely predisposed to severe anaemia, especially in specified areas where malaria prevalence is very high in Nigeria[8]. Occurring more amongst primigravidae (first-time mothers), these groups are highly susceptible to malaria due to their low immunity[9].
We know how to end malaria[10]. The choice is ours: act now or risk losing ground. Ending malaria is not just a health imperative; it is an investment in a more equitable, safer, and prosperous future for every nation[11].
On World Malaria Day, let us reinvest, Reimagine, and reignite so that Malaria Ends with us[12].
In commemoration of the 2025 World Malaria Day, NOIPolls surveyed to gauge the perception of Nigerians regarding malaria disease and hereby presents its findings.
Survey Findings
The first question sought to gauge the level of awareness of Nigerians regarding malaria intervention initiatives across communities. The poll result shows that the majority (74 percent) of respondents reported that they are not aware of any malaria prevention or elimination campaign going on in their community. However, 23 percent answered in the affirmative, with more respondents coming from the North-west (35 percent) and North-east (32 percent) regions.
When respondents were asked if they think malaria is one of the most worrisome health challenges in Nigeria, nearly all respondents (95 percent) said ‘yes’. This cuts across gender, geographical locations, and age. However, just a handful (4 percent) of respondents stated otherwise.
Respondents were asked if they or members of their household had treated malaria in the last three months, and findings showed that most respondents (75 percent) acknowledged they or a member of their household had treated malaria. The South-East zone (83 percent) accounted for the highest number of respondents who made this assertion. On the contrary, 24 percent of the respondents reported that they or members of their household have not treated malaria in the last three months.
Furthermore, the survey sought to know what Nigerians do when they feel symptoms of malaria. Findings show that half of Nigerian households (51 percent) reported that they go to the hospital. Others visit a Chemist (17 percent), Pharmacy (13 percent), take herbs (7 percent), buy from hawkers (2 percent), self-medicate (2 percent), pray, run a lab test, drink lots of water (1 percent each). Interestingly, 4 percent of Nigerians say they do nothing when they feel symptoms of malaria.
Respondents (75 percent) who admitted to treating malaria in the last three months were further probed to know
if they ran a lab test to ascertain it was malaria. The result indicates that 69 percent responded in the affirmative. On the contrary, 28 percent stated that it was self-diagnosed.
When asked the name of the drug(s) they usually buy to treat malaria, the poll result showed that Amatem tablet (9 percent), Coartem (6 percent), and Lonart (6 percent each) were the top-mentioned medications.
Subsequently, in determining if Nigerians have insecticide-treated nets. The result shows that 65 percent of respondents interviewed answered in the affirmative. However, 35 percent stated otherwise, with a greater proportion (30 percent) of Nigerians not knowing where to get it. Analysis by geographical location shows that the North-West (42 percent) and North-Central (38 percent) regions have the highest proportion of Nigerians who do not know where to get an insecticide-treated net.
Respondents (65 percent) who have an insecticide-treated net were further probed to know if they slept under the net the previous night. Findings show that more than half (52 percent) of Nigerian households report they do not sleep under the net due to hot weather. This is followed by 11 percent who feel uncomfortable sleeping under the net and 8 percent who believe no mosquitoes around as it is not the season for it, amongst other reasons cited.
Lastly, the poll probed to ascertain if Nigerians are aware of the symptoms of malaria disease and preventive measures. The results indicate that headache (41 percent), body pain (31 percent), and high body temperature (29 percent) were the top-mentioned symptoms, amongst others. Similarly, when asked what to do to prevent malaria disease, findings reveal that sleeping inside a mosquito-treated net (46 percent), spraying insecticide routinely (25 percent), and cleaning household surroundings (20 percent) were the top-mentioned preventive measures Nigerians adopt.
To track the trend of Malaria treatment amongst Nigerians, a comparison of findings from the 2021, 2023, and 2025 NOIPolls Malaria Poll indicates a significant increase in the proportion of people that treated for malaria in the past three months. While the current poll reveals that 75 percent of respondents have either treated or have family members who had treated malaria in the last 3 months, 45 percent and 50 percent had the same experience in 2021 and 2023, respectively.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the poll report showed that 95 percent affirmed that malaria is one of the most worrisome health challenges in the country and admitted that they or a member of their household had treated malaria in the last three months. And interestingly, 69 percent of Nigerian households reported that they ran a lab test to ascertain it was malaria. The poll result shows that the top-mentioned symptoms include headache (41 percent), body pain (31 percent), high temperature (29 percent), and fatigue (20 percent).
While findings revealed that 35 percent of Nigerians reported that they do not have an insecticide-treated net, with a greater proportion (30 percent) not knowing where to get it, the use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) is a strategy recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for malaria prevention[13]. In Nigeria, ITNs have been periodically distributed since 2007 through campaigns[14]. Nigeria has a long-standing program of insecticide-treated net (ITN) distribution to combat malaria, with campaigns and distribution efforts taking place across various states[15].
It is imperative that the government at all levels re-strategize, re-invent ideas, and intensify efforts on awareness creation on the distribution of insecticide-treated nets and other malaria preventive measures across communities, from grassroots to urban areas, to eliminate the disease if Nigeria is to meet the 2030 malaria goals.
Survey Methods
The opinion poll was conducted in the week commencing April 14th, 2025. It involved telephone interviews of a proportionate nationwide sample of 1,000 randomly selected phone-owning Nigerians aged 18 years and above, representing the six geo-political regions and 36 states and the FCT. Interviews were conducted in 5 languages – Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Pidgin English, and English. Although we can say with 95% confidence that the results obtained were statistically precise, within a margin of error of plus or minus 4.65%, we recognize that the exclusive use of telephone polling has its limitations in excluding non-phone-owning Nigerians. Nonetheless, with the country’s tele-density put over 100 per cent by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), we consider our telephone polling approach appropriate. Also, given the rigorous scientific process of randomization and stratification applied, we can confidently stand by the validity of our methodology and approach. NOIPolls Limited, No. 1 for country-specific polling services in West Africa. We conduct periodic opinion polls and studies on various socio-economic and political issues in Nigeria. More information is available at www.noi-polls.com.
Disclaimer
This press release has been produced by NOIPolls Limited to provide information on all issues that form the subject matter of the document. Kindly note that while we are willing to share results from our polls with the public, we only request that NOIPolls be acknowledged as authors whenever and wherever our poll results are used, cited, or published. NOIPolls hereby certifies that all the views expressed in this document accurately reflect the views of respondents surveyed for the poll, and background information is based on information from various sources that it believes are reliable; however, no representation is made that it is accurate or complete. Whilst reasonable care has been taken in preparing this document, no responsibility or liability is accepted for errors or facts, or any views expressed herein by NOIPolls for actions taken because of information provided in this report. Any ratings, forecasts, estimates, opinions, or views herein constitute a judgment as of the date of this document. If the date of this document is not current, the views and content may not reflect NOIPolls' current findings and/or thinking.
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