PREVALENCE AND NEONATAL OUTCOMES OF ASYMPTOMATIC MALARIA PARASITAEMIA IN LABOUR IN FEDERAL TEACHING HOSPITAL ABAKALIKI

Abstract

Background
Asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia is a problem in malaria endemic areas like ours and
has contributed directly or indirectly to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality in our
environment. Malaria is however preventable.
Objective
The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and neonatal outcomes of
asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia in labour in Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki.
Methods
This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the labour ward complex of the
Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki over a period of three months from March – May 2012.
Two hundred and fifty unbooked women who presented in labour at term and were willing to
participate were consecutively recruited. A structured data collection sheet was administered
to each parturient. A thick and thin blood films were prepared to identify malaria parasites
while maternal and cord blood were collected and preserved in separate EDTA bottles to
determine maternal and fetal haemoglobin concentration respectively. Part of the placentae
were collected and analysed for malaria parasitisation in the histopathology laboratory. The
neonates were weighed and recorded.
Result
A total of 250 unbooked parturients participated in the study. The mean age of
parturient in the study was 28.2 ± 7.2. Thirty two parturients were aged 19 years or less, 131
were aged between 20 – 29 years, 65 were aged between30-39 years and 22 were aged
between 40 – 49 years. One hundred and seven parturients were primigravid, 111 were
between para 1 – 4 while 32 were para 5 and above. Fourteen parturients were of high socio
economic class while 236 were of low socio-economic class. One hundred and forty one
neonates were males while 109 were females. Forty one neonates had low birth weight. The
prevalence of asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia was 77.6% while placental parasitisation was
in 227 (90.8%) of the 250 parturients. The prevalence of maternal anaemia was 46.8% while no
neonate had anaemia.
Conclusion
Asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia was prevalent in the study group. There was strong
correlation between asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia and age, parity, social class,
haemoglobin concentration and fetal birth weight.

PREVALENCE AND NEONATAL OUTCOMES OF ASYMPTOMATIC MALARIA PARASITAEMIA IN LABOUR IN FEDERAL TEACHING HOSPITAL ABAKALIKI