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Plasmodium falciparum Infection among Antenatal Clinic Patients at Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital (EBSUTHAI), Abakaliki: implication for intensification of preventive measures.
¹ELOM, M.O, ¹Alo, M.N., ²Odikamnoro, O.O. and ²Nwani, C.D.

1. Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
2. Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Biological Science, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Email: okparaelom2@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of malaria infection among antenatal clinic patients at Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki was studied between July and September, 2008. Four hundred (400) pregnant women of varying age groups, gravidity and at different trimesters of pregnancy were examined. Sixty-one (15.30%) were infected. Women within the age group of 20-24 years had the highest prevalence (17.90%) while women of ages 35 years and above had the lowest prevalence (10.53%). Age was not statistically significantly associated with malaria infection (p>0.05). The primigravidae were more infected than the multigravidae. Their prevalences were 24.60% and 11.72% respectively. There was a significant difference in association between malaria infection and gravidity (p<0.05). Women in their first trimesters of pregnancy had the highest prevalence of 21.80% while those in their third trimesters had the lowest prevalence of 9.64%. There was also a significant difference in association between malaria infection and gestation period (p<0.05).

Keywords: Plasmodium falciparum, prevalence, antenatal patients, prevention.

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