Prevalence of Malaria Parasite Infection among Pregnant Women Attending Ante-Natal Clinic in State Specialist Hospital

Abstract

Malaria is lives threaten parasitic disease transmitted by female anopheles mosquitoes and are highly prevalent trophical disease, with high morbidity and mortality and high economic and social impact. This study was aimed to determined malaria parasite infection among pregnant women attending State Specialist Hospital Maiduguri. Out of 108 blood samples tested for malaria parasite, only 52 (48.1%) were positive. highest prevalence was recorded among age 20-24years with the prevalence of 16(44.4%) followed by age 30-34years 11(40.7%), 35-39years 4(50.0%) and 13-19years with 2(13.3%). The distribution based on educational status showed that only 23(48.9%) were positive among those women who have undergone formal education while those that have not undergone formal education had 29(47.5%) positive. Similarly, based on gravidity showed that Multigravidae had higher prevalence of 34(52.3%) than Primigravidae 18(41.9%) and also according trimester showed that pregnant women that were in second trimester have higher prevalence of 35(53.8%), followed by those in first trimester 14(42.4%) and those in third trimester 3(30%). However, no statistically significant difference was recorded between the prevalence of the malaria parasite infection and all these variables of the patients. Therefore, Prophylactic drugs should be administered to pregnant women in other to prevent malaria infections. Also use of insecticide-treated nets decreases both the number of malaria cases and malaria death rates in pregnant women and finally, it is also essential to avoid stagnant pools and poor environmental condition, which encourage the breeding of mosquito.