Hamatological parameters and malaria parasite infection among pregnant women in Northwest Nigeria

Objective: To evaluate some hematological and anthropometric parameters, malaria infection\udat different trimesters in pregnancy. Methods: Fifty pregnant women (6 in first trimester, 28 in\udsecond trimester and 16 in third trimester) between ages of 15-40 years with ten age-matched\udnon-pregnant women used as control were enrolled in the study. Consent were obtained from\udthe subjects after which semi-structured questionnaires were administered to obtain data on\uddemographic and socio-economic variables, reproductive and medical history. Anthropometric\udvariables, and hematology were carried out using standard procedures. Results: Anthropometric\udcharacteristics showed no significant difference in weight, height and BMI when compared with\udnon-pregnant control. Hematological values indicated higher values for non-pregnant women\udbut not statistically significant. Prevalence of malaria infection in pregnant women showed that\ud40% of pregnant women examined were infected compared to 30% non-pregnant with those with\udfirst pregnancy (primagravid) recording the highest infection (47.62%) with pregnant women within\udage 15-18 years least infected (16.7%). Pregnant women in the third trimester had the highest\ud(50%) malaria infection and there was increase in prevalence with increase education status and\udthose with first pregnancy (primagravid) recorded the highest infection (47.62%). Treatment used\udwhen infected showed 36.8% and 42.9% used malaria drug and both drug/herbs respectively.\udConclusions: Higher prevalence rate of malaria infection in pregnant women with the highest\udprevalence recorded in those with first conception (primigravidae). There is a need for continuous\udmonitoring of hematological parameters and malaria parasite infection for better outcome of\udpregnancy