Prevalence of Malaria, Typhoid Fever and Their Co-infection among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Turai Yar’adua Maternal and Children Hospital, Katsina

Abstract

Introduction: Malaria and typhoid fever remain a major public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly among pregnant women where infection may lead to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Aim: This study assessed the prevalence of malaria, typhoid fever, and their co-infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Turai Yar’adua Maternal and Children Hospital (TYMCH), in Katsina, Nigeria. Study Design: A cross-sectional study involving seventy (70) pregnant women was conducted between June and July 2024. Methodology: Socio-Demographic and obstetric data was collected using a structured questionnaire administered to the study participants. Blood samples were collected and examined for Plasmodium parasites using Giemsa-stained thick blood smears. Typhoid fever was assessed using blood culture and serological testing (Widal agglutination test). Data were analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, and associations were assessed using the chi-square test. Results: The overall prevalence of malaria was 27.1%, typhoid fever was 87.1%, and malaria–typhoid co-infection was 24.3%. Significant trends in the prevalence of typhoid fever, malaria, and their co-infection across different demographic groups were found by the study. The highest incidences of malaria were found in primigravidae, pregnant women aged 26–35, and those in their second trimester. Malaria primarily afflicted rural women and housewives. Housewives and people living in rural areas were also the most afflicted by typhoid fever, which was most common in women between the ages of 16 and 25, those in their second trimester, and primigravidae. Women between the ages of 36 and 45, primigravidae, and those in their first and second trimesters had the highest rates of co-infection; the incidence was higher among housewives and urban dwellers. Conclusion: Malaria, typhoid fever, and their co‑infection remain common among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Katsina. Routine screening, improved diagnostic approaches, expanding access to insecticide-treated nets and clean water will reduce the burden of these infections, thereby improving maternal and fetal health outcomes in Katsina State.