THE PREVALENCE OF ASYMPTOMATIC MALARIA PARASITAEMIA AT DELIVERY IN USMANU DANFODIYO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (UDUTH), SOKOTO

Abstract

Background and Objectives
There is paucity of data as regards malaria parasitaemia amongst parturients in the north western
part of Nigeria. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic
maternal malaria parasitaemia at delivery, the prevalence of umbilical and placental malaria
parasitaemia, to determine the packed cell volume (PCV) of the study group and also to determine
the effect of parasitaemia at delivery on birth weight and placental weight.
Subjects and Method
Two hundred parturients who satisfied the criteria for inclusion into the study were recruited
between 1st July, 2009 and 31st September, 2009. Blood samples were collected from each
parturient by finger prick and from the umbilical cord and placentas. Thin and thick blood smears
were prepared on glass slide and read under microscope for malaria parasite while packed cell
volumes was determined by the micro centrifuge technique. All placentae were weighed on table
top Beam weighing scale together with the membranes and the cord after removing obvious blood
clots to verify completeness shortly after delivery. The weights of the newborn babies were
recorded to the nearest gram immediately after delivery using the same table top Beam weighing
scale.

Results
There were 25 asymptomatic parturients that had positive malaria parasite (MP) on the blood film
giving a prevalence rate of 12.5%. The umbilical cord and placental parasitaemia was 0.5%.Primigravidae and secondegravida parturients constituted 60% (16 cases) of asymptomatic malaria
positivity. Asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia was more in the unbooked than the booked
parturients. (P = 0.0005, RR = 0.2857)
The use of mosquito nets and malaria chemoprophylaxis during pregnancy were associated with
significant protection against malaria parasitaemia (RR = 1.788. P= 0.0001 and RR = 0.1331, P =
0.0001 respectively) both at 95% confidence level.
The mean packed cell volume of those with malaria parasite (mp positive) was 32.0% 4.4 and
those that were MP negative was 33.1% 3.2. The difference was not statistically significant (P =
0.083). Malaria parasitaemia was associated with relative risk of developing Anemia (RR = 2.2107,
P= 0.0631) but was not statistically significant.
The mean birth weight of babies of parasitaemic parturients (3013.20g ± 487.94) was lower than
those without parasitaemia (3161.97g ± 524.55) the difference however was not statistically
significant (P = 0.1829). The parasitaemic placenta had lower mean weight (554.40g ± 58.67) than
the aparasitaemics,(591.81g ± 124.41) the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.1411).
Conclusion
The prevalence of asymptomatic parasitaemia in the study group was 12.5%. The prevalence of
umbilical and placenta parasitaemia was 0.5%. The packed cell volume (PCV) is lower in the
parasitaemic parturients than the aparasitaemics. The mean birth weight and mean placental
weight were lower in the parasitaemic parturients than the aparasitaemics. Routine use of
insecticide treated mosquito nets, residual household spraying with insecticides and use of malaria
chemoprophylaxis may synergistically; reduce asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia at delivery.

THE PREVALENCE OF ASYMPTOMATIC MALARIA PARASITAEMIA AT DELIVERY IN USMANU DANFODIYO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (UDUTH), SOKOTO