Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits Detection of Malaria Parasites among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal in Selected Hospitals in Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

A study was carried out to determine the status of malaria in four (4) selected hospitals in Anyigba, Dekina Local Government Area, Kogi State. A total of 300 pregnant women attending antenatal were tested for malaria parasite us-ing rapid diagnostic test kits. Blood samples were obtained from finger by prick-ing and tested for malaria parasites. Structured questionnaires were adminis-tered to the pregnant women to obtain relevant information on the clinical and social aspects of malaria. A prevalence of 13.0% (39 women) was observed among pregnant women in Anyigba. Grimard Hospital and Egume General Hospital had the highest prevalence of 14.7% each; Maria Goretti Hospital had a prevalence of 13.3%, while KSUTH had the least prevalence of 9.3%. Age prevalence revealed that women with age < 20 years had the highest pre-valence of 29.4% which was significant (p > 0.05) from the other age catego-ries. Unemployed and women in their second trimester had the highest pre-valence of 17.1% and 16.0% respectively. On the gravidity of the pregnant women, primigravidae (21.9%) was higher than multigravidae (10.6%) signif-icantly (p < 0.05). Women from a polygamous family had a prevalence of 15.2% higher than those from monogamous family with a prevalence of 12.4%. The findings of this study revealed that malaria continues to exert significant pub-lic health and economic burden among pregnant women in parts of Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State. Continuous efforts at providing neces-sary information by relevant health organizations are needed to control and reduce incidence of malaria in this area.