Abstract
This study aims to determine the prevalence of malaria and anaemia among pregnant women attending their first antenatal care booking in Abeokuta. Blood samples were collected from 222 randomly selected pregnant women attending their first antenatal clinic in a secondary health facility in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. Blood samples were screened for malaria parasites using thick film and observed under the microscope. Anaemia was investigated among subjects using haematocrit. Questionnaires were administered to obtain demographic and medical information and data collected were analysed using SPSS 16.0. The prevalence of malaria parasitaemia was 113(50.90%), and 123(55.0%) were anaemic. The prevalence of anaemia was found to be high 69(61.1%) among the pregnant women that tested positive to malaria parasite compared with those that tested negative (48.6%). A high prevalence of malaria parasite infections (60.0%) was recorded among the teenagers (16-19years) compared to that of their older counterparts; 20-30years 65(47.8%) and above 30years 36(54.5%). A high proportion of the multigravidae (55.9%) were positive for malaria parasite, followed secundigravidae (50.7%), while the primigravidae recorded the lowest 44(47.8%) prevalence of malaria infections. Pregnant women that booked for ANC within their first trimester recorded a relatively low prevalence of malaria parasite infections 20(48.8%) compared to those within their second 90(50.8%) and third trimester 3(75.0%) respectively. many pregnant women who start visiting ANC are already malaria positive and anaemic. While IPTp is not recommended until after quickening, an earlier start of LLIN usage, iron and folate supplementation, even before booking, may be beneficial. As the first step, health education strategies should emphasize early clinic attendance.
Highlights
Malaria, a parasitic disease caused by Plasmodium species and transmitted by female anopheles mosquitoes remains one of the world most devastating parasitic infections [1]
This study aims to determine the prevalence of malaria and anaemia among pregnant women attending their first antenatal care booking in Abeokuta
In areas of Stable Malaria transmission, P.falciparum infection in pregnant women is associated with maternal anaemia and Low Birth Weight (LBW) [4,5,6]
Summary
A parasitic disease caused by Plasmodium species and transmitted by female anopheles mosquitoes remains one of the world most devastating parasitic infections [1]. Malaria remains the most severe and complex health challenge facing the vast majority of the countries in the sub-Saharan Africa [2]. In Nigeria, like other endemic areas, its severe and complicated effects are most common among infants and pregnant women [3]. In areas of Stable Malaria transmission, P.falciparum infection in pregnant women is associated with maternal anaemia and Low Birth Weight (LBW) [4,5,6]. The occurrence of Low Birth Weight had been attributed to intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) which might have been as a result of placental parasitisation [2] in which the frequency is usually higher among the primigravidae and immuno compromised (HIV) infected mothers [6]
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