Prevalence of Congenital Malaria in Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

A Seven months (March-September 2006) study on the prevalence of
congenital malaria was carried out at the labour unit of three different
hospitals within Ilorin metropolis: Eyitayo Hospital, Surulere Medical
Hospital and Children Specialist Hospital Centre Gboro Ilorin. A total of
130 blood samples were collected from the mothers and their newborn babies
and examined for malaria parasite using both thin and thick films. Maternal
packed cell volume (PCV), and genotype was also determined using
haematocrit method and cellulose acetate electrophoresis respectively. The
prevalence rate of maternal, fetal, placental and cord parasitaemia were
37(28.46%), 29(22.31%), 33(25.38%) and 30(23.08%) respectively. Malaria
infected maternal blood had a mild reduction in PCV level (p<0.05).
Genotype showed strong correlation with maternal, fetal, placental and cord
parasitaemia (p<0.05). However, the effect of malaria prophylaxis was
shown to be more protective for the placental parasitaemia (p<0.05). Finally maternal age and parity did not show strong correlation with Maternal, fetal,
placental and cord parasitaemia (p>0.05).

Keywords: Malaria; Mothers; Newborns