Description
Despite several interventions in combating malaria in African countries and especially Nigeria,the disease still remains a public health problemm which cause greater impact among pregnant women, under five children and immunocompromised individuals. Plasmodium falciparum which sequester in the placenta, cause greater disease contributing significantly to maternal and infant mortality. The epidemiological study of malaria was carried out among consented pregnant women attending antenatal care in Yola north Local Government Area Adamawa State Nigeria from October 2022 to November 2023. Both the use of direct microscopy and rapid diagnostic test were employed for the study using parasitological standard procedures. Structured questionaires were used to collect information on the study subject. Out of the total 1254 pregnant women sampled for the study,195 were positive for malaria with a pooled prevalence of 15.6%. This prevalence was relatively low compare to several similar studies conducted in Nigeria among pregnant women. According to age, age group 15-23 years recorded highest prevalence of 7.7% while age group >=38 years had the least malaria Prevalence rate of 0.3% without significant association (p>0.05). The differences in this age group may be attributed to the level of acquired immunity which increase age and this could confer protection against malaria infection as they advance in age. In regards to parity, highest malaria Prevalence rate of 7.7% was recorded among multigravidae and lowest prevalence of 3.3% was recorded among primigravidae. This may be as a result of low level of specific immunity to malaria infection and the immunological changes in host during pregnancy. According to educational levels,highest malaria Prevalence rate of 6.9% was also reported among pregnant women with secondary education and least (1.1%) was recorded among primary school. Moreover, in regard to parity, highest malaria Prevalence rate of of 7.6% was recorded among pregnant women in their third trimesters and least (3.0%) was recorded among pregnant women in their first trimesters. Occupation status of the respondents was also observed to be among the possible risk factors associated with the prevalence of malaria among pregnant women. In this study, highest malaria Prevalence rate of 50.6% was reported. Majority of the study participant (88.1%) owned one or more ITNs while 11.9% do not owned any. This suggest that there is still a need to scale up distribution of ITNs as possession and correct usage of ITNs will go a long way in reducing malaria morbidity and mortality among pregnant women who are among the most vulnerable group of people affected by malaria diseases. During this study, sleeping under ITNs previous night was statistically significant (p<0.05). Knowledge of malaria on mode of transmission, prevention and effects on pregnancy were observed to be statistically significant (p0.05). Therefore, more intervent ion programs toward malaria prevention should be designed and implemented among pregnant women and be incorporated routine antenatal care services especially screening for malaria among pregnant women.
Key words: Epidemiology, malaria, pregnant, women, Adamawa, Nigeria.
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