Prevalence of malaria among pregnant women attending antenatal care in General Hospital Saminaka, Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State

Abstract

Background: Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease affecting human and other animals caused by parasitic single – called microorganism belonging to the plasmodium group. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, malaise, vomiting, and headache, in severe cases it cause jaundice, seizures, coma or death. Malaria infection during pregnancy poses substantial risk to the mother, her fetus, and the neonate.
Aim: This study was aimed at determining the prevalence, predisposing and risk factors of malaria among pregnant women attending antenatal care in general hospital Saminaka, Lere Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
Methodology: Four hundred and eighteen (418) blood samples were randomly collected among the pregnant women attending ante natal care in General Hospital Saminaka and then taken to the laboratory for examination. The investigation was carried from November, 2018 to January, 2019. Thick and thin blood films were employed for the diagnosis.
Results:88 (21%) had no malarial infection, 330 (79%) had malarial infection: of which 56 (17%) had anaemia as complication due malarial in pregnancy, 13 (4%) had miscarriage and 3 (1%) had hypoglycemia. Woman with age bracket of 15-20 has the highest prevalence 138(33.0%), followed by those with age bracket, 21-25(30.4%) and then those with age group of 26-30 (21.5%) respectfully, while age group of 31-35 and 36-40 had the lowest prevalence of 31 (7.4%) and 32 (7.7%). Respondents occupation shows Trader were the highest with the frequency 159(38%), Unemployed (house Wife) 112 (26.8%), Civil Servant 37(8.9%), Unskilled Labourers 16(3.8%) and Farmers 9(2.2%) respectfully. Respondents level of education shows Primary were the highest with frequency of 128(30.6%), Secondary 126(30.1%), Informal 77(18.4%) and Tertiary 44(10.5%) respectfully.
Conclusion: The ability to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the prevalence of malaria infection among the pregnant women is a major challenge. Malaria is playing a considerable role in causing anaemia, miscarriage, hypoglycemia in pregnancy in this part of the globe. In most part of the developing world like Nigeria, maternal and child health services should be given utmost support at every level for the prevention and control of malaria in pregnant women.