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Vol.1 , No. 1, Publication Date: Mar. 27, 2015, Page: 9-14
, Sokoto. Method: Two hundred and ten (210) consecutively recruited pregnant women, aged between 18-45 years constituted the subjects for this descriptive study. The study was conducted in the month of June, when malaria infection is usually high. Blood samples were collected and examined for malaria parasite. Both thick and thin films were made and stained using parasitological standard procedures. Malaria density was computed using the WHO formulae. Results: The result indicated a malaria prevalence of 52.2%. Malaria infection was significantly higher among pregnant women in the second trimester (50.9%), followed by third trimester (42.9%) and then first trimester (6.2%) (p=0.01). Level of parasitaemia among the subjects indicated that 25(21.6%) had severe malaria infection while 55(47.4%) had moderate case of malaria parasitaemia and 36(31.0%) had mild malaria density. The prevalence of malaria infection was significantly higher among pregnant women in the 18 – 25 years age group (54.3%) followed by those by the 26 – 35 with (43.1%) and 36 – 45 age range (2.6%) (p=0.01). Severe parasitaemia was more prevalent among primigravids women, followed by secundigravids women and the least severity was recorded among multigravids women (12(10.3%), 8(6.9%) and 5(4.3%) respectively). Plasmodium falciparum was responsible for all the cases of malaria. Conclusion: This present study indicates a high prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum malaria among pregnant women in Sokoto, Nigeria. There is need for the implementation of preventive measures including the provision of regular malaria prophylaxis and provision of insecticide-treated mosquito nets to reduce the substantial risks to the pregnant woman and her foetus.&picture=http://www.aascit.org/aascit/decorators/img/journal/894.jpg)
| [1] | Udomah F. P., Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. |
| [2] | Isaac I. Z., Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Sokoto state, Nigeria. |
| [3] | Lukman I., Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Sokoto state, Nigeria. |
| [4] | Nwobodo D., Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Sokoto state, Nigeria. |
| [5] | Erhabor O., Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Sokoto state, Nigeria. |
| [6] | Abdulrahaman Y., Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. |
| [7] | John R. T., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Sokoto state, Nigeria. |
Background: Malaria infection during pregnancy is a significant public health problem and a major contributor to adverse maternal and perinatal outcome. In hyper endemic area like Nigeria, it is a common cause of anaemia in pregnancy and is aggravated by poor socioeconomic circumstances. The aim of this study is to investigate plasmodium infection rate and parasite density among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto. Method: Two hundred and ten (210) consecutively recruited pregnant women, aged between 18-45 years constituted the subjects for this descriptive study. The study was conducted in the month of June, when malaria infection is usually high. Blood samples were collected and examined for malaria parasite. Both thick and thin films were made and stained using parasitological standard procedures. Malaria density was computed using the WHO formulae. Results: The result indicated a malaria prevalence of 52.2%. Malaria infection was significantly higher among pregnant women in the second trimester (50.9%), followed by third trimester (42.9%) and then first trimester (6.2%) (p=0.01). Level of parasitaemia among the subjects indicated that 25(21.6%) had severe malaria infection while 55(47.4%) had moderate case of malaria parasitaemia and 36(31.0%) had mild malaria density. The prevalence of malaria infection was significantly higher among pregnant women in the 18 – 25 years age group (54.3%) followed by those by the 26 – 35 with (43.1%) and 36 – 45 age range (2.6%) (p=0.01). Severe parasitaemia was more prevalent among primigravids women, followed by secundigravids women and the least severity was recorded among multigravids women (12(10.3%), 8(6.9%) and 5(4.3%) respectively). Plasmodium falciparum was responsible for all the cases of malaria. Conclusion: This present study indicates a high prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum malaria among pregnant women in Sokoto, Nigeria. There is need for the implementation of preventive measures including the provision of regular malaria prophylaxis and provision of insecticide-treated mosquito nets to reduce the substantial risks to the pregnant woman and her foetus.
Keywords
Malaria Parasitaemia, Pregnant Women, Sokoto
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