Malaria prevalence and risk factors associated with anemia among pregnant women attending ante-natal clinic at a tertiary health care Centre in Owerri, Southeastern Nigeria
1 Department of Biology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B 1526, Owerri, Nigeria.
2 Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B 1526, Owerri, Nigeria.
3 Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Imo State University, P.M.B 2000, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
4 Department of Pediatrics, Imo State University Teaching Hospital, P. M.B 08, Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria.
5 Department of Microbiology, Madonna University, Imo State, Nigeria.
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2022, 14(01), 157–163
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2022.14.1.0294
Publication history:
Received on 01 March 2022; revised on 06 April 2022; accepted on 08 April 2022
Abstract:
Malaria and anemia are significant public health threats to pregnant women in Nigeria. This study assesses malaria prevalence and risk factors associated with anemia among randomly selected 150 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at the Federal Medical Center, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria, over a four-month period. Well structured, interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics. Hospital records provided information on their hematological and parasitological parameters including history of anemia, malaria cases, hookworm infection and nutritional deficiency tests for iron and vitamins. The data were collected and subjected to statistical analysis. Classification of anemia was based on World Health Organization criteria on hemoglobin concentration. The result showed that the overall prevalence of malaria among the women was 78 (52.0%). Out of this value, majority of the women, 61(40.7%) were mildly anemic, while 15(10.0%) were moderately anemic. Only 2 (1.3%) of the women were severely anemic. The risk factors associated with the anemia among the women included iron deficiency 27(34.6%), malaria 23(29.5%), foliate deficiency 13(16.7%), vitamin B12 deficiency 10 (12.8%) and hookworm infection 5(6.4%). The outcome of this study suggests the need for the concerned antenatal clinics to step up screening program on Hb-levels, iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiencies tests for all pregnant women. Adopting iron and vitamin supplements in diet for pregnant women, use of insecticide treated nets, elimination of breeding sites for mosquitoes and proper waste disposal also are strongly advocated.
Keywords:
Ante-natal: Pregnant women: Malaria prevalence: Anemia: Risk factors
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