The burden of malaria infection on pregnant women and birth weight of infants in south western Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effect of malaria infection on pregnant women and the birth weight of the infants in the south western Nigeria.

Subject: 262 pregnant women who came for antenatal clinic at Ade-Oyo maternity hospital. 128 were primigravidae while 134 were multigravidae.

Methodology: 2ml of blood was withdrawn from 262 pregnant women who came for antenatal clinic at Ade Oyo maternity hospital. Thick blood smears were prepared for parasite identification and quantification. Anaemia was detected by measuring Hb levels using Drabkin's solution. Age, gravidity and history of treatment with antimalaria drugs were obtained from the subjects using questionnaire.

Result: The overall prevalence of infection was 41.8%. Primigravidae were more infected (35%) than multigravidae (22%). The prevalence was significantly higher (p<0.05) in wet season than dry season. Teenagers and primigravidae were more infected than the adults and multigravidae. The severity of the anaemia was significantly higher (p<0.05) among malaria positive teenagers and primigravidae than adults and multigravidae. The mean birth weight of infants born to malaria positive was significantly lower (p<0.05) than those born to malaria negative mothers. Malaria positive teenagers and primigravidae had infants with lowest birth weight as compared with adult and multigravidae. The birth weights of the infants were positively correlated with the Hb levels.

Conclusion: This study suggests that malaria infection, anaemia, and gravidity affect the birth weight of infants born in Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria.