Prevalence, and Biosocial Associations, of Malaria Parasitemia in Pregnant Women from Southeastern Nigeria

Background: Malaria in pregnancy is a globally recognized cause of feto-maternal morbidity and mortality. Certain bio-social characteristics may be associated with malaria in pregnancy. Objective: To determine the prevalence, and some bio-social associations, of malaria parasitemia in pregnant women from southeastern Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: This is a prospective cross-sectional study of 330 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in health facilities in Nnewi, southeastern Nigeria. Thick and thin blood films were stained with Giemsa to identify malaria parasites; a pro-formal questionnaire was employed to elicit some bio-social variables. Data analysis was made using SPSS version 25 to relate bio-social variables to malaria parasitemia. Test of significance was made using Chi-square test with significant levels put at P less than 0.05 at 95% confidence interval. Results: The prevalence of malaria parasitemia was 18.5%. Malaria parasitemia mostly occurred in women aged 20–24 years 9 (24.3%) and least among those aged 35–39 years 2 (4.2%)). The relationship was not significant ( P = 0.58). Malaria parasitemia occurred significantly higher in the secundigravida 15 (25.0%) compared to multigravida 38 (16.9%), ( P = 0.01); and women in the first trimester 15 (30.0%) compared to second 28 (21.2%) and third 18 (12.2%) trimesters ( P = 0.005). Malaria parasitemia showed no significant difference in the pregnant women with respect to the type of health facility. Conclusion: Malaria parasitemia in pregnancy has a prevalence rate of 18.5% in this study. Malaria preventive measures should mostly target paucigravidae women in the first trimester; emphasis should be placed on malaria preventive education as part of pre-conception care.