Haematological parameters associated with malaria in pregnant women attending general hospital Kaltungo, Gombe State, Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria during and after pregnancy remained a major public health concern in the tropics and
subtropics. This becomes necessary to investigate the anaemic level of pregnant women attending General Hospital Kaltungo, Gombe State. The study was conducted in General Hospital, Kaltungo, Kaltungo Local Government Area of Gombe State. Cross-sectional survey was conducted on consecutive pregnant women attending ante-natal over a period of 6 months (January to June); in 2018. Data was obtained from 300 pregnant women. The pregnant women were between the ages of 17 to 45 years. About 5 ml of venous blood samples were taken from each patient in EDTA tubes for malaria parasite and haematological examinations. Analysis of Malaria parasites was done using microscopy techniques, while haematological indices (Packed Cell Volume, Haemoglobin and White Blood Cell) were analyzed. Out of the 300 pregnant women that took part in the study only 17 (5.67%) had malaria parasites. The haematological parameter of the pregnant women infected with malaria parasites; showed that those with normal PCV range about age, (37 ≥ years and above); had the highest number of pregnant women 2 (100%). The same pattern was also observed with similar age range on normal haemoglobin. The low prevalence of malaria parasites among pregnant women in Kaltungo, Gombe state, showed that the intervention programme is effective.