Vol. 1, Issue 3, Part A (2014)

Author(s): Ibecheozor, N.K.O, Peletiri, I.C.

Abstract: Malaria, which is transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes, is the major cause of mortality among the pregnant women in the sub-Saharan Africa. A ten year study of malaria in pregnancy was carried out in Abuja, North Central Nigeria. Thick and thin blood films were stained with the Giemsa methodology. Of the 16760 pregnant women blood samples, 4571 (27.3%) were positive for malaria parasites caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Of the 4571 positive cases, 75 (1.7%) had parasite density of >5000 parasites/µl of blood; 148 (3.2%) had between 500-5000 parasites/µl of blood; 520 (11.4%) had between 50 - 500 parasites/µl of blood; while 3828 (83.7%) had between 5-50 parasites/µl of blood. With the current estimate of over 4500 deaths of pregnant women in Nigeria due to malaria annually, we must make deliberate efforts to stop these unacceptable and painful losses. The continued use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (M-RDTs) methodologies should be discontinued because of its negative implications. Therefore, the microscopic laboratory diagnostic component should be included in ANC at all level of health care facility.