Prevalence of Malaria and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women Attending Uniosun Teaching Hospital Osogbo Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Pregnancy-related malaria is still a public health issue, as it contributes to a high infant mortality rate, low birth weight, and maternal mortality. Over 80% of the world's malaria cases were found in sub-Saharan Africa and India. More than 500,000 cases were reported in Nigeria, Madagascar, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Nigeria, are most at risk of malaria infection each year, with about 50 million pregnancies at risk. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine malaria prevalence and associated risk factors among pregnant women in Osun State, Nigeria. The study was retrospective of five years between January 2017- December 2021. The medical records of 277 pregnant women who tested positive for malaria were retrieved to examine the contributing factors and malaria-related complications. Data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software package, version 23. The Chi-square test was used to determine statistical significance. Data were presented in their simplest form and P - value < 0.05 was statistical significance. The prevalence of malaria reported among pregnant women was found to be 98.9% caused by Plasmodium falciparum. While most pregnant women who tested positive for malaria parasite had no complications, low birth weight was the most common complication among pregnant women who were infected with malaria, Proportion of malaria in pregnant women during the gestational period was found, according to the findings - 1st Trimester 33.2%, 2nd Trimester 47.3%, and 3rd Trimester 19.5%. There was no significant association between the prevalence of malaria and Genotypes (P=0.498). It was discovered that the prevalence of malaria among pregnant women was high with P. falciparum being the most common malaria parasite found in the stud. Prenatal care was found to be a major factor in the early detection of signs and symptoms associated with pregnancy.