Skip to content
Research Article Open access CC BY 3.0

Prevalence of Malaria Parasite Infection among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Michael N. WOGU, Florence O. Nduka, MacDonald D. WOGU

International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health · pp. 126–132 · Published 2 Apr 2013

10.9734/IJTDH/2013/2738

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the prevalence of malaria parasites among some pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Rivers State, Nigeria. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Five healthcare centres in Rivers State, Nigeria, between April and September 2011. Methodology: Peripheral blood samples were collected using venous procedure and the presence of malaria parasites was observed microscopically on thick and thin blood smears prepared from each sample. Personal data were collected through questionnaires and the general results gotten during this study were analyzed statistically using two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results: The only species of malaria parasite identified in this study was Plasmodium falciparum. A total of 104 (26%) pregnant women were infected with P. falciparum in this study. Pregnant women in their first, second and third trimesters had prevalence rates of 27%, 27.3% and 21.8% respectively (P<0.05). Prevalence rates for primigraviidae, secundigraviidae and multiparous women were 26.1%, 31.5% and 20% respectively (P<0.05). prevalence rates of 26.9%, 27.8% and 21.5% were observed in pregnant women between the ages of 11-20, 21-30 and 31-40 respectively (P<0.05). Conclusion: Malaria still needs to be given more attention due to its negative impact on pregnant women and their unborn children.

Prevalence malaria pregnancy women Plasmodium gestation period parity age

References (14)

  1. 1 The pathogenic basis of malaria [DOI]
  2. 2 World Malaria Report, 2008.
  3. 3 Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum infection in pregnant women in Gabon [DOI]
  4. 4 Burden of Malaria during Pregnancy in Areas of Stable and Unstable Transmission in Ethiopia during a Nonepidemic Year [DOI]
  5. 5 Diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria at Delivery: Comparison of Blood Film Preparation Methods and of Blood Films with Histology [DOI]
  6. 6 Submicroscopic Plasmodium falciparum infections in pregnancy in Ghana [DOI]
  7. 7 Comparative T‐Cell Responses During Pregnancy in Large Animals and Humans [DOI]
  8. 8 Malaria in pregnancy in rural Mozambique: the role of parity, submicroscopic and multiple Plasmodium falciparum infections [DOI]
  9. 9 An evaluation of the effect of parity and age on malaria parasitaemia in pregnancy [DOI]
  10. 10 Prevalence of malaria parasitaemia and malaria related anaemia among pregnant women in Abakaliki, South East Nigeria.
  11. 11 Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum infection in pregnant Cameroonian women. [DOI]
  12. 12 Prevalence of malaria parasites and anaemia in pregnant and non pregnant women in Aba and Okigwe towns of southeast Nigeria [DOI]
  13. 13 Malaria in pregnant women: research, epidemiology, policy and practice [DOI]
  14. 14 Malarial Immunity in Pregnant Nigerian Women and Their Newborn [DOI]

Cited by 37

Analysis of Knowledge Management Practice Studies among the Plasmodium falciparum Positive Patients Attending out Patient Departments in Awka, South Anambra State

Doris O. Obasi, Johnpaul N. Azorji, Nathaniel E. Onyenwe, Obianuju O. Duru · International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health · 2019

Analysis of HIV/Malaria Coinfections among HIV-1 Infected Individuals in Two Tertiary Hospitals in Old Cross River State, Nigeria

Ugochi Immaculate Ejike, Tochi Ifeoma Cookey, Hope Chioma Innocent- Adiele, Iheanyi Omezuruike Okonko · International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health · 2020

Low Malaria Infection After a Decade of Effective Implementation of Preventive Measures and Speciation of Plasmodium SP Among Pregnant Women Attending an Antenatal Clinic in Benue State, Nigeria

Mary C Swem, Emamanuel B Wama, Vera Y Akwa · 2025

The Prevalence of Congenital Malaria : Nigerian Experience

Etefia Uwem Etefia · International Annals of Science · 2019

Malaria Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors among Pregnant Women Attending Wadata and Lafia North Primary Health Care Centers Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

James Ishaku Maikenti, Ruqayyat Musa Umar, Akwashiki Ombugadu · UMYU Scientifica · 2024

Malaria in Pregnancy and Predisposing Factors in Jor District of Gambella Region, Southwest Ethiopia: A Cross‐Sectional Study

Okwom Oguta, Jemal Mohammed, Ukash Umer · Health Science Reports · 2025

Plasmodium Parasitaemia among Pregnant Women in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Ibinabo Laura Oboro, Omosivie Maduka, Terhemen Kasso · Advances in Infectious Diseases · 2021

Is Nigeria winning the battle against malaria? Prevalence, risk factors and KAP assessment among Hausa communities in Kano State

Salwa Dawaki, Hesham M. Al-Mekhlafi, Init Ithoi · Malaria Journal · 2016

The Rate of Asymptomatic Plasmodium Parasitemia and Placental Parasitization in Urban and Rural Areas of Cross River State, Nigeria

Cajethan Emechebe, Andrew Enwa Okpe, Edu Michael Eyong · Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences · 2022

Evaluation of Renal Function in Pregnant Women with Malaria: A Case-Control Study in a Mesoendemic Area

Justice Afrifa, Samuel Essien-Baidoo, Albert Baffour Gyau · Obstetrics and Gynecology International · 2017

Showing 12 of 37 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.

Related research

Article metrics

Real usage data collected on this platform.

66

Page views

0

PDF downloads

6

Outbound clicks

37

Citations

Views over time

Views by country

Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".

Traffic sources

Referring site, by host.

Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.