Prevalence of malaria and geohelminth co-infection among antenatal women at the Federal Medical Centre and Specialist Hospital, Yola, Adamawa Sate, Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria and geohelminths are known to be associated with pregnancy within all age groups. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria and geohelminths co-infection among pregnant women. The study was conducted on 252 pregnant women who came for antenatal visits at Federal Medical Center and Specialist Hospital within Yola metropolis from July to November 2015. Socio-demographic information of the pregnant women was collected. Capillary blood from finger prick was used for malaria screening by microscopy. Geohelminths were determined by stool examination using wet mount and formal ether concentration techniques. Malaria, geohelminths and co-infecion had 20.2%, 21.4%, and 6.3% prevalence, respectively. Those within 20-24 and 25-29year age group had high rate of co-infection of 2.4% each. The results show no association between age and coinfection p<0.05. Malaria was significant in this study at p<0.05. The result show relatively low rate of coinfection of malaria and geohelminths prevalence. © JASEM https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v21i3.7