Prevalence and intensity of malaria amongpregnant women attending antenatal clinic at federal teaching hospital, Gombe State, Nigeria

In plain language

A clinical study involving two hundred pregnant women aged between 18 and 50 years at a teaching hospital in Gombe State evaluated the occurrence of malaria, intestinal parasitic worms, and anaemia. Laboratory analyses of blood and stool samples revealed that 53.5 per cent of the participants tested positive for malaria, 5.5 per cent harboured intestinal helminths, and 86.5 per cent had anaemia. Parasites identified in stool samples included hookworm, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Trichuris trichiura. Among participants with anaemia, co-infection with malaria and intestinal worms accounted for 54.5 per cent of cases, whereas malaria alone was present in 49.0 per cent of anaemic participants. Statistical evaluations revealed correlations linking the prevalence of malaria, worm infections, and anaemia with demographic characteristics such as age, parity, literacy level, and marital status.

Key takeaways

Malaria prevalence was 53.5 per cent, intestinal helminth prevalence was 5.5 per cent, and anaemia reached 86.5 per cent among screened pregnant women.
Co-infection with malaria and intestinal worms accounted for 54.5 per cent of anaemia cases in the cohort.
Malaria alone was present in 49.0 per cent of the participants affected by anaemia.
Identified intestinal parasites included hookworm, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Trichuris trichiura.
Prevalence rates correlated with demographic variables including age, parity, literacy level, and marital status.

Why it matters

Anaemia during pregnancy poses substantial risks to both maternal and fetal survival and wellbeing. Demonstrating high rates of malaria and anaemia, alongside worm infections, underscores the acute burden of co-morbidities during antenatal care. Identifying demographic correlations helps healthcare providers understand how maternal age, parity, and literacy influence vulnerability, supporting targeted screening and clinical management strategies in regional antenatal settings.

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Abstract

This study assessed malaria prevalence and intestinal Helminth infection concerning anaemia within 200 pregnant women, aged between 18-50 years at booking, at FTHG, Gombe State, were enrolled. Blood was drawn from each study subject via venipuncture for laboratory analysis of hemoglobin concentration and microscopic detection of malaria parasites. Also, faecalspecimens were collected for formol ether concentration to determine the intestinal parasites. SPSS version 24 and chi square (x) were used to analyzethe association between malaria, intestinal helminth and demographic data of the participants. The results showed prevalence of malaria, intestinal helminth infection and anaemia: 53.5%, 5.5%, and 86.5% respectively among the study population. Malaria and Intestinal Helminth co-infection accounted for 109(54.5%) of anaemia cases among the participants, while 98 (49.0) of those with anaemia had malaria alone. The intestinal helminth infections identified were Hookworm, lumbricoides, and T. trichiura. The study found out that there was a correlation between the prevalence of malaria, intestinal helminth and anaemiato age, parity, literacy level, and marital status at p

Research topics

Global Maternal and Child Health
Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy

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