Prevalence of helminthes infection among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at the Sunni Hospital, Maiduguri, Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: The burden of helminthes infections and their consequent morbidity and mortality continue to attract attention of global health expert and managers. The effect of helminthes infections among pregnant women contribute to increasing maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality.

Aim: The prevalence of intestinal nematode infection was studied among 405 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at the Sunni Hospital Maiduguri, Maiduguri, over a period of 3 months, from March 2012 to May 2012.

Study design: It was a hospital based cross sectional study. Macroscopic, wet preparation and the 2 methods of concentration, i.e., brine (floatation) and formol-ether (sedimentation) concentration methods were used to examine the stool for ova and the larvae of intestinal parasites.

Results: Of the 405 samples examined, one hundred and two (25.2%) women were found to be infected with one helminthes or another. Mean age of participants was 25.3 years. Ascaris infection was found to be most infecting helminthes. The prevalence tended to be more in the age bracket 16 to 30 years, multi-gravidas, and in 2^nd trimesters. Although businesswomen were more affected, the effect was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: The study indicated that intestinal helminthiasis was more prevalent among multiparas, aged 16-30 years and in the second trimester of pregnancy. Hence, routine administration of antihelminthics to pregnant women during antenatal visits is recommended.