Co-Infection of Malaria and Typhoid Fever among Pregnant Women Attending Primary Health Care Centre, Ojo Local Government, Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Co-infection of malaria and typhoid can result in serious complications and conditions in pregnant women. Objectives: This research was carried out to investigate the co-infection of malaria and typhoid fever among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Primary Health Care centre, Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Ojo Local Government, Lagos. Methods: 170 blood samples of pregnant women were examined for the presence of malaria parasite and typhoid fever using standard methods and compared with equal number of non-pregnant women (170). Co-infection was characterized based on age group, trimester, gravidal, education status and employment status. Women’s data were collected through questionnaires. Results: Prevalence of co-infection of malaria and typhoid in pregnant women was high in age group 26-35 years 50 (63.3%), 50 (63.3%) of women in second trimester had coinfection, high prevalence of co-infection was observed in gravidal Co-infection of malaria and typhoid were high among the pregnant women of gravidal 1, 2 and 3. Also, co-infection of malaria and typhoid was high among women with secondary 41 (51.9%) and tertiary 31 (39.2%) education, semi-skilled women 37 (46.8%) and respondents had good knowledge of malaria and typhoid. Conclusions: This study revealed the prevalence of coinfections among the pregnant women; hence more attention should be given to this group.