Prevalence of malaria infection in pregnant women attending Bamalli Nuhu Maternity Specialist Hospital, Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of malaria parasites in pregnant women attending Bamalli Nuhu Maternity Specialist Hospital Kano. A total of 250 blood samples of pregnant women were tested using field stain method and the parasites were identified using the standard identification keys. Out of which, 180 (72%) were found to be malaria parasite positive. The result of the present study revealed that Plasmodium falciparum had the highest rate of infection with about 68.8% while Plasmodium ovale was found to have an infection rate of 3.2%. The result revealed a highly significant difference within the means levels between the observed species (P. falciparum and P. ovale) (00000.1904***). Based on parity 94 (78.33%) Primigravidae, 61 (72.62%) Secundigravidae and 25 (54.35%) Multigravidae were infected respectively. The result of the findings also reveals that there is a significant difference within the levels of pregnant women Parity (0.01719*). It was concluded that more than half of the pregnant women were infected with malaria infection and P. falciparum was the predominant species then P. ovale. The findings of the study further proved that Primigravidae and Secundigravidae are more susceptible to malaria infection. More effort should be made in order to control malaria infection by providing better clinical management of the disease that includes curative and preventing measures.  

Keywords: Prevalence, Parity, Plasmodium, Pregnant Women, Infection rate