Malaria is one of the commonest tropical diseases plaguing the African continent and
the rural areas of the continent in particular. Hence this study was carried out to
analyze the effect of malaria on the overall farm income of the rural households, the
level of awareness and use of modern preventive measures of treating malaria in Ido
Local Government Area, classified as rural in Oyo State. Stratified random sampling
procedure was employed for the research survey in which the first level of
stratification involved the random selection of one Local Government Area (LGA),
the second level of stratification was that of selection of four villages and the third
level of stratification was the selection of twenty five households each from the
villages . A total number of 100 respondents were finally used for data analysis using
both descriptive and multiple regression techniques. Low level of awareness, (56%),
use of modern preventive measures (12%), poor sanitary conditions, and large
household size (8 persons), were the major factors responsible for the high malaria
incidence in the rural household. The increase in malaria incidence however had a
significant effect on the health and farm income of the farmers through increase in the
number of days of incapacitation of an average of 22 days and an income loss of
N15231.50 during the days of incapacitation. The recommended policies arising from
the economic implications of these empirical findings were that public enlightenment
under the aegis of the “Roll Back Malaria Campaign” should be intensified in the
rural areas in particular and treated mosquito bed nets provided at subsidized rates to
rural households. Farmers on their part should keep clean environment.