BURDEN OF MALARIA PARASITAEMIA AND ANAEMIA AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN AT FIRST ANTENATAL VISIT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI TEACHING HOSPITAL, MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA

Abstract

Background: Malaria and anaemia in pregnancy constitute a risk to both the mother and her unborn child but there is paucity of data regarding the magnitude of the problem in our region. Objective: This study was conducted with the main objective of determining the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia and anaemia among our pregnant women at first antenatal booking. Methods: Four hundred pregnant women who attended antenatal care (ANC) at the UMTH, Maiduguri were studied. Packed cell volume estimation and peripheral blood smear for malaria parasites were done. Results: The prevalence of malaria parasitaemia and anaemia at booking were 60.3% (241/400) and 62.3% (249/400) respectively. The mean parasite density was 701.04 +/- 382.22 parasite/ul and the anaemia was malaria parasite density dependant (p+0.000). Young maternal age, low parity and late booking were risk factors for malaria parasitaemia. Conclusion: There was high prevalence of malaria parasitaemia with a high parasite density among pregnant women at booking. The prevalence of anaemia was also high and it was associated with malaria parasite density. There is need to educate the populace about malaria preventive measures to reduce the exposure of the pregnant woman to the malaria infection. The use of intermittent preventive treatment, insecticide treated nets and routine haematinics in pregnancy should be intensified.

Keywords

• malaria parasitaemia
• anaemia
• antenatal
• umth