ABSTRACT

A study on the prevalence of malaria parasitaernia and anaemia among pregnant women attending Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Umuahia and Nwachinemere Maternity and Child-care Delivery Centre (NMCCD) Ihie in Umuahia metropolis in Abia State Nigeria was carried out betweem ApriOctober 2010. Blood samples were collected by vein puncture from 500 pregnant women in different trimesters. 300 from FMC and 200 from NMCCD. Presence of malaria parasites was observed microscopically on the thin and thick blood smear prepared from each sample. Data were collected and analyzed statistically using chi-square test. A total of 270 (54.0%) pregnant women out of 500 examined were positive for malaria parasites while 254 (94.1%) were anaemic. FMC had 158 (52.6%) out of the 300 pregnant women examined to be infected while NMCCD had 112 (56.0%) out of the 200 pregnant women examined. There was no significant difference between the results obtained from the two hospitals (P>0.05). Peak prevalence was obseived in the first trimester 64.1% while the third trimester showed the lowest prevalence of 50.7%. prevalence was also highest in primiravidae with 59.9% followed by the women in their second pregnancy (52.2%) and the least was among the multigravidae (50.1%). Anaemia of(Hb <ii g/dl) was observed in 254 (94.1%) out of the 270 positive with malaria parasites. Of the 270 infected women 254 (94.1%.) were anaemic. Anaemia was significantly higher iii women with higher parasitaemia .The • implications of the result of this study, result to among others low birth weight, induced abortion, anaemia and eventual death among pregnant women. To reduce morbidity and mortality of pregnant women due to malaria, government and relevant agencies should educate the public through enlightment campaign on the preventive measures and possible treatment of malaria.