Prevalence of malaria among pregnant women in Owerri municipality, Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

A study was carried out on the prevalence of malaria among pregnant women in Owerri Municipal council area in Imo State, Nigeria between December 2001 and October 2002. Of 250 women examined, 200 women were pregnant. Of the 200 pregnant women examined, 22 (11.0%) had malaria parasitaemia. Prevalence of malaria was significantly higher in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women, in pregnant women from Owerri General Hospital than in Owerri Federal Medical Centre, in women within the second trimester (13.9%) than other gestational periods (P<0.05). Women less than 25 years of age are mostly infected (121%), followed by women within 26-35 years of age. Pregnant women with low packed cell volume (PCV) had higher prevalence than in women with normal PCV. Pregnant women with less than 9.1g/d haemoglobin had highest prevalence than others with higher haemoglobin levels. Other effects of malaria among pregnant women observed were fever, headache, loss of appetite, nausea and body pains.



Keywords: keyword; keyword; keyword

AJAZEB Vol. 6 2004: pp. 31-35