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Spatial Distribution of Reported Malaria, Measles and Cholera Cases Across Six Local Government Areas in Kogi State, Nigeria
Subject area: Science,Engineering and Technology · Area of research: Environmental Science
DOI: 10.64388/IREV10I4-1724236
Abstract
This study mapped the spatial distribution of reported malaria, measles and cholera cases across six Local Government Areas in Kogi State, Nigeria, namely Adavi, Okene, Bassa, Dekina, Kabba/Bu and Lokoja, using twenty-one years, 2005 to 2025, of disease surveillance records obtained from the Federal Ministry of Health, the Kogi State Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Disease records were integrated with the administrative boundaries of the six Local Government Areas within a Geographic Information System to visualise the spatial pattern of reported cases of each disease. The results show that cholera incidence was densely concentrated in the riverine Local Government Areas of Lokoja, Bassa and Kabba/Bu, all situated along the Niger and Benue rivers, where seasonal flooding, poor drainage and contaminated water sources facilitate the spread of Vibrio cholerae. Malaria incidence showed widespread but pronounced clustering in Lokoja, Adavi, Kabba/Bu and Dekina, consistent with the high rainfall, humidity and vegetation density of these areas, which support Anopheles mosquito breeding and accelerated parasite development. Measles incidence was more evenly spread across the state but was notably clustered in Kabba/Bu, Bassa and Adavi, a pattern associated with routine immunization coverage, population density and seasonal indoor crowding. Lokoja and Bassa emerged as Local Government Areas of compounded vulnerability, where all three diseases overlapped, reflecting the intersection of climatic, hydrological and infrastructural stressors. The study concludes that the spatial distribution of malaria, measles and cholera in Kogi State is shaped by the interaction of geography, climate and infrastructure, and recommends disease-specific, spatially targeted interventions, including cholera-safe water infrastructure in riverine areas, malaria vector control in high-vegetation zones, and year-round measles immunization drives in high-density Local Government Areas.
Keywords
spatial distribution; malaria; measles; cholera; geographic information system; Kogi State
References
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How to cite this paper
@article{1724236,
author = {Olatunji Labake Rebecca, D. U Sangari, Aganbi Blessing, J. I. Affi},
title = {Spatial Distribution of Reported Malaria, Measles and Cholera Cases Across Six Local Government Areas in Kogi State, Nigeria},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {10},
number = {4},
pages = {3389-3396},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1724236.pdf},
abstract = {This study mapped the spatial distribution of reported malaria, measles and cholera cases across six Local Government Areas in Kogi State, Nigeria, namely Adavi, Okene, Bassa, Dekina, Kabba/Bu and Lokoja, using twenty-one years, 2005 to 2025, of disease surveillance records obtained from the Federal Ministry of Health, the Kogi State Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Disease records were integrated with the administrative boundaries of the six Local Government Areas within a Geographic Information System to visualise the spatial pattern of reported cases of each disease. The results show that cholera incidence was densely concentrated in the riverine Local Government Areas of Lokoja, Bassa and Kabba/Bu, all situated along the Niger and Benue rivers, where seasonal flooding, poor drainage and contaminated water sources facilitate the spread of Vibrio cholerae. Malaria incidence showed widespread but pronounced clustering in Lokoja, Adavi, Kabba/Bu and Dekina, consistent with the high rainfall, humidity and vegetation density of these areas, which support Anopheles mosquito breeding and accelerated parasite development. Measles incidence was more evenly spread across the state but was notably clustered in Kabba/Bu, Bassa and Adavi, a pattern associated with routine immunization coverage, population density and seasonal indoor crowding. Lokoja and Bassa emerged as Local Government Areas of compounded vulnerability, where all three diseases overlapped, reflecting the intersection of climatic, hydrological and infrastructural stressors. The study concludes that the spatial distribution of malaria, measles and cholera in Kogi State is shaped by the interaction of geography, climate and infrastructure, and recommends disease-specific, spatially targeted interventions, including cholera-safe water infrastructure in riverine areas, malaria vector control in high-vegetation zones, and year-round measles immunization drives in high-density Local Government Areas.},
keywords = {spatial distribution; malaria; measles; cholera; geographic information system; Kogi State},
month = {October},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I4-1724236}
}