Prevalence of Malaria Infection among Pregnant Women Attending Specialist Hospital Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Malaria in pregnancy is a public health problem with serious negative impact on the mother and the foetus. There were 228 million cases of malaria and 405,000 deaths worldwide according to the World Health Organization (WHO) world malaria report for 2018. It is caused by a parasite of genus Plasmodium, transmitted to humans by a bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. Thus, the present study aims at determining the prevalence of malaria infection among pregnant women attending Specialist Hospital Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria. A study was conducted through random anonymous testing of volunteers from the month of July to September 2019, at antenatal care unit, Specialist Hospital Yola after ethical clearance was obtained. Three hundred and thirteen participants were examined for the presence of malaria parasite using standard method, microscopy (Giemsa stained) thick and thin blood smears. Structured questionnaires were also administered to the women from whom blood samples were collected. Prevalence was characterized based on age group, educational level, occupation and gestational age of the participants. Overall prevalence showed that 36.74% of the pregnant women were infected with malaria. Participants between age groups; 26-35 years old had the highest prevalence of 58.26%. There was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between the prevalence of malaria and age group of the participants. In relation to/As regards the Educational level, participants with secondary education had the highest prevalence of malaria infection with 56.52%. There was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between the prevalence of malaria and educational level of the participants. Regards occupation of the participants, women who were Unemployed recorded the highest prevalence of malaria (27.83%). There was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between the prevalence of malaria and occupation of the participants. Based on gestational age of the participants, subjects that were in their second trimester recorded the highest prevalence of malaria with 55.65%. There was a statistically significant difference (P< 0.05) between the prevalence of malaria and gestational age of the participants examined. This study has revealed the prevalence of malaria infection among pregnant women; hence the need for health education in malaria control and prevention especially during pregnancy.