South Asian Journal of Parasitology

Aim: Malaria knowledge, practices, prevalence and parasitaemia among pregnant women in Ebonyi State, Nigeria was assessed in this present study.

Methodology: The study was carried out from April 2011 to March 2012 from two purposively selected hospitals in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Three hundred and sixty pregnant women were selected at random for this study. Venous blood samples were collected and Giemsa stained thin and thick blood films were used to determine malaria species and parasitaemia. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.

Results: In relation to knowledge on the cause of malaria, pregnant women that said it was by evil spirit recorded the highest number of 31(58.5%), while those that said it was caused by staying under the sun recorded the least number of 33(36.7%). In relation to practices, pregnant women that did not sleep in netted houses 51(42.0%) had higher numbers than those that slept in netted houses 99(41.4). Pregnant women with bushes around their houses (47.9%, n = 67) had higher prevalence than those whose houses were devoid of bushes (37.7%, n = 83). Pregnant women who had gutters around their houses had higher prevalence than those that do not have gutters around their houses. In relation to demographic factors, the age groups (15 – 20 yrs) had the highest prevalence 21(51.2%). This was followed by age groups 36 and above 8(42.9%), while the least was observed among age groups (26 – 30 yrs), 54(38.0%). In relation to education, it showed that pregnant women with no formal education had the highest prevalence 12(54.5%) and the least prevalence was observed among those with tertiary education 27(33.8%). The prevalence in relation to occupation showed that farmers had the highest prevalence 45(54.9%), followed by house wives 21(42.9%) and traders 49(40.2%). Students 8(25.0%) had the least prevalence. High parasitaemia was observed in all age groups. Moderate and severe prevalence was seen in (15 – 20 yrs) and (26 – 30 yrs) age groups. With regards to occupation, civil servants and artisans had light parasitaemia moderate and severe parasitaemia was seen among farmers and traders. In education, light parasitaemia was observed among women with no formal education while moderate and severe intensities were observed among women with primary education.

Conclusion: From the findings of this study, malaria continues to exert significant public health problem among pregnant women in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. This was found to be due to poor knowledge of the cause, mode of transmission and prevention measures of malaria among these pregnant women. Pregnant women are therefore advised to attend ante-natal care where malaria education should be carried out frequently which will help to reduce its morbidity and mortality.