Prevalence of Malaria Infection among Pregnant Women Attending Some Antenatal Clinics in Gombe State, Nigeria

1Asher R., 2Chessed G., 2Qadeer M. A., 1Muhammad I., 3Muhammad D.H., 1Abba E. and 1Jemimah A

1Department of Zoology, Gombe State Univerity, Gombe State Nigeria
2Department of Zoology, Moddibo Adama University, P.M.B. 2076, Yola, Adamawa State Nigeria
3Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe State Nigeria

*Corresponding author: rejoiceasher@gmail.com, doi.org/10.55639/607.818079


ABSTRACT

Malaria continues to be a major health problem in endemic countries; it has been identified in many studies to worsen certain pregnancy outcomes, leading to an increase in morbidity and mortality. There are an estimated 100 million malaria cases with over 300,000 deaths per year in Nigeria. This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of malaria among pregnant women living in Gombe State. A total of 725 Pregnant Women attending antenatal clinic from six selected general hospitals in Gombe State were examined, and blood samples collected from the subjects were analysed. Malaria diagnosis were carried out using standard parasitological techniques. The overall results showed that of the 725 samples examined, 31.9% were positive and 68.1% negative. The degree of parasitemia evealed mild in 78.4%, moderate in 17.3% and severe in 4.33%. Age group 21-25 (12.3%) had more infection, followed by age group 31-35 (7.31%), 26 30 (5.65%), 15-20 (4.00%), 36-40 (2.20%), 41-45(0.27%) and 46-50 (0.14%). More infections were recorded among pregnant women in their third trimester 19.7%(143) compared with those in second trimester 10.9%(79) and first trimester 1.24%(9) respectively. Malaria infection was also higher among multigravid 8.8%(136) pregnant women than among primigravid 8.41%(61) and secondigravid 4.68 (34) pregnant women. However, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between prevalence of infection with Age group, trimester and gravidity of the pregnant women. This research work has provided information at the local level on the spread of malaria parasites in pregnant women in Gombe State. There is therefore the need for increase sensitization and awareness on the effect of malaria infection in pregnancy which will in turn enhance prevention, management and control.

Keywords:

Malaria,
Prevalence,
Pregnant women,
Parasitemia,
Density