Prevalence of malarial parasites in pregnant women attending Sir Muhammad Sunusi Specialist Hospital, Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

A total of 300 blood samples of pregnant women were tested to determine the prevalence of malarial parasite using Leishman’s stain method. Out of which, 155 (51.7%) were found to be M.P positive, while 145 (48.3%) were M.P negative. 85 (54.8%) of M.P positive had the highest percentage as the primigravidae followed by 70 (45.16%) as multigravidae. Observation have shown that there was a high prevalence of 76 (49.03%) positive patients in the month of August followed by September with 44 (34.19%) as well as 26(16.77%) in July respectively. This was attributed as a result of heavy rainfall experience between Julys to September. It was also seen that patients from Sauna quarters has a highest number of prevalence of 36 (24.5%). this attributed to the fact that they have a close proximity with the hospital and has a highest number of patients that attended the antenatal clinic during the period.

Keyword: Prevalence, Malarial Parasite, Pregnant Women, Kano.