Assessment of the Nutritional Status and Risk Factors of Malaria among Pregnant Mothers in Owerri Rural Communities, Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria during pregnancy remains a serious public health problem, with substantial risk for the mother, her fetus and the new born. A crosssectional study was conducted in Owerri rural hospitals among 150 pregnant mothers in Emekuku and Uratta rural communities in Owerri, Imo State using questionnaire. Ninety (90) pregnant women from Holy Rosary Hospital Emekuku and 60 pregnant women from Redeemed Jesus People hospital and maternity, Uratta, Owerri within the age range of 20-50 years were involved in this study. Anthropometric data, age, weight and height were collected using standard scale and the meter rule. Cluster analysis was applied for the identification of the groups with similar nutritional habits and anthropometric parameters. At the end of the data collection and analysis, it was obtained that 40.7% of the women lived in a moderately bushy environment, 13.3% in a very bushy environment, 6.6% lived in a bushy environment while 39.4% however lived in a very clean environment. In assessing the nutritional status the result indicates that 45.3% skipped meals while 54.7% do not. 82.7% of the women had a history of malaria while 17.3% had none. 22% of the pregnant women were malaria positive while 78% were negative. 56.7% of the women had mosquito net while 43.3% did not. 53.3% of the women disliked some food, 82% took supplement, and 36.7% took multivitamins. About 50 % of the pregnant women were overweight. The anthropometric characteristics of respondents showed that women from 40-50 years had high mean in their respective variables and no significant difference (p>0.05) in their ranges. The use of Insecticide-Treated Mosquito nets (ITNs) was found to be associated with malaria infection; pregnant women who did not use ITNs frequently were more affected by malaria as compared to those who did.