Prevalence of Plasmodium Species Infection Among Pregnant Women in Igabi Local Government Area, Kaduna State

Abstract

Malaria is a disease caused by Plasmodium species that are haemo-protozoans, single-celled, transmitted by mosquito vector. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Plasmodium species infection among pregnant women in Igabi Local Government Area, Kaduna State. A cross-sectional study designed was conducted among four Primary Health Care Centers (PHCC); Miyettti Allah, Taro-Taro, Dan-Mani and Mando in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Blood samples were collected intravenously from 210 pregnant women. The samples were examined for Plasmodium species using Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT), Microscopy and confirmed using Polymerase chain reaction test. Data was analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (version 26) and Chi-square was used to determine the association at a P-value > 0.05. Result showed that, Plasmodium falciparum caused the infection among the pregnant women in the area. The overall prevalence was 66/210 (31.4%). The highest prevalence was recorded in Taro-Taro PHCC (40.0%). It was found that fever (51.5%) was the most frequent chief complaint and the least was body-ache (11.8%) out of the four encountered. It can be concluded that Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for infection in pregnant women characterized by fever, headache, chills and body-ache. Keywords: