Malaria and anaemia in pregnant and non-pregnant women of child-bearing age at the University Hospital - KNUST,

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2011
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Malaria infection during pregnancy is a major public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world. This study was conducted to compare the prevalence of malaria and anaemia in pregnant and non-pregnant women of child-bearing age at the University Hospital- KNUST, Kumasi. This is a cross sectional, comparative study conducted from February to December 2010 at the Hospital. Using a systematic method, 380 each of pregnant and non-pregnant women were screened for the study. Blood and stool samples were collected from participants who were referred to the laboratory for routine examination. Pregnant women have higher malaria parasitaemia (12.6 %) compared to 6.6% in non-pregnant women. The species isolated from the pregnant women were P. falciparum (85.4%), P. malariae (4.2%) and P. ovale (10.4%). Among non-pregnant women of child-bearing age, 76% P. falciparum, 8% P. malariae and 16% P. ovale were isolated. Anaemia was high in pregnant women (62.6%) compared to their non-pregnant counterparts (53.2%) and intestinal nematodes were not associated with anaemia in pregnant women. Age of pregnant women was a factor affecting malaria parasitaemia with a significant P-value and OR (P-value = 0.0041, 0R =7.61). Malaria infection was common in nulliparous women, and most of the pregnant women were in their second trimester at the time of screening. Malaria parasitaemia was higher in the primigravidae (14%) and multigravidae recorded the highest anaemia prevalence (67.1%). The highest prevalence of malaria (28.6%) and anaemia (69.0%) were among pregnant women in their third trimester. Pregnant women reporting at the antenatal care were not given intermittent preventive treatment (IPT). There was increased risk of malaria parasitaemia in pregnancy in the use of „others‟ (mosquito coils, creams, repellents and insecticide sprays) compared to ITN usage with a significant P-value (OR = 4.17, 95% CI = 1.90-9.19 and P-value = 0.0001 for „others‟ and OR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.24-1.51 and P-value < 0.0001 for ITN). Malaria parasitaemia and anaemia are found to be common medical conditions associated with pregnancy. Pregnant women are more susceptible to malaria and anaemia compared to their non-pregnant counterparts. xix Malaria was the major cause of anaemia in both pregnant and non-pregnant women. Efforts should be geared towards the control of malaria and anaemia during pregnancy. Other anaemia causing agents apart from malaria should be investigated in future studies.
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A thesis submitted to the Board of Postgraduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Master of Science in Clinical Microbiology, 2011
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