Korean J Parasitol.  2009 Jun;47(2):179-183. 10.3347/kjp.2009.47.2.179.

Prevalence of Malaria in Pregnant Women in Lagos, South-West Nigeria

• Agomo CO
• Oyibo WA
• Anorlu RI
• Agomo PU

• KMID: 1720630
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2009.47.2.179

Abstract

Prevalence rates reported for malaria in pregnancy in Nigeria vary considerably. The accuracy of results of malaria diagnosis is dependent on training, experience, and motivation of the microscopist as well as the laboratory facility available. Results of training programmes on malaria microscopy have shown low levels of sensitivity and specificity of those involved in malaria diagnosis routinely and for research. This study was done to ascertain the true prevalence of malaria in pregnancy in Lagos, South-West Nigeria. A total of 1,084 pregnant women were recruited into this study. Blood smears stained with Giemsa were used for malaria diagnosis by light microscopy. Malaria infection during pregnancy presents mostly as asymptomatic infection. The prevalence of malaria in this population was 7.7% (95% confidence interval; 6.2-9.4%). Factors identified to increase the risk of malaria infection include young maternal age (< 20 years), and gravidity (primigravida). In conclusion, this study exposes the over-diagnosis of malaria in pregnancy and the need for training and retraining of laboratory staffs as well as establishing the malaria diagnosis quality assurance programme to ensure the accuracy of malaria microscopy results at all levels.

Keyword

malaria; diagnosis; prevalence rate; pregnancy; Nigeria

MeSH Terms

Adult
Blood/parasitology
Female
Humans
Malaria/diagnosis/*epidemiology
Microscopy
Nigeria/epidemiology
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/*epidemiology
Pregnant Women
Prevalence
Young Adult