Prevalence Of Malaria Parasitaemia In Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics At The University Of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

The paper studied the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State. A total of 350 blood samples were collected from consecutive pregnant women registering at the antenatal clinics. It was examined for malaria parasites, using both thick and thin films. Cellulose acetate electrophoresis was used to detect the haemoglobin genotype; haematocrit method was used to determine the packed cell volume (PVC) and tube technique to determine the blood group and rhesus typing of the subjects. An overall prevalence rate of 10.5% was obtained. Prevalence rate for age group 14-20 was 14% while age group 41- 50 had no infection. Primigravidae had higher infection rate (14%) than Multigravidae (8%) and the difference was significant (P<0.05). The prevalence was highest during the first trimester (15.4%) and it was lowest during third trimester. Intermediate socioeconomic class had the highest infection rate (18%) followed by the lower and higher classes with 11% and 8% respectively. The highest prevalence (12.7%) was recorded among the subjects with secondary level of education, while women with tertiary education had the lowest (5.7%). Moreover, women living in self contained houses had the a lower prevalence (6.2%) than those living in face to face room type of accommodation (13.5%), the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05%). Haemoglobin genotype AA had the mostly occurring infection (13%), followed by AS (6%). Subjects with the blood group AB+ were more frequently parasitized (14.2%), followed by 0+ with 11%.

Key words: Parasitaemia, Plasmodium falciparum, Socioeconomic status