Journal Portal
Global Research Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.2(4) pp.048 – 053 December 2012
Available online http://www.globalresearchjournals.org/journal/?id=GRJMS
Copyright ©2012 Global Research Journals
Full Length Research.
THE PREVALENCE OF ASYMPTOMATIC MALARIA PARASITAEMIA AT DELIVERY IN USMANU DANFODIYO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL SOKOTO NORTH WESTERN NIGERIA.
Panti AA1x, Omokanye LO2, Ekele BA3, JIya NMA4, Isah AY3, Nwobodo EI.1 Ahmed Y1
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto Nigeria.
2Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Teaching Hospital Ilorin Nigeria
3Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja. Nigeria.
4Department of Paediatrics, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto Nigeria.
1x Corresponding author’s E-mail: kapanti2002@yahoo.co.uk, Tel No: +2348035041074.
Abstract
Malaria is one of the leading causes of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of asymptomatic maternal malaria parasitaemia at delivery and to establish the packed cell volume (PCV) of the study group. Two hundred parturients who satisfied the criteria for inclusion into the study were recruited between 1st July and 31st September, 2010. Data tool used for the study was interviewer-administered questionnaire. There were 25 asymptomatic parturients that had positive malaria parasite (MP) on the blood film giving a prevalence rate of 12.5%. Primigravidae and secondegravidae parturients constituted 60% of asymptomatic malaria positivity. Asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia was more in the unbooked than the booked parturients. (P = 0.0005, RR = 0.2857).The use of mosquito nets and malaria chemoprophylaxis during pregnancy were associated with significant protection against malaria parasitaemia (RR = 1.788. P= 0.0001 and RR = 0.1331, P = 0.0001 respectively). The mean packed cell volume of those with malaria parasite (MP positive) was 32.0%4.4 and those that were MP negative was 33.1%3.2. The difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.083). Malaria parasitaemia was associated with relative risk of developing Anemia (RR = 2.2107, P= 0.0631) but was not statistically significant. The prevalence of asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia at delivery was low. Routine use of insecticide treated mosquito nets, residual household spraying with insecticides and use of malaria chemoprophylaxis are recommended to further reduce the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia at delivery.