MALARIA INFECTION, HAEMOGLOBIN AND PROTEINURIA AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CLINIC AT NEW ERA HOSPITAL, ABA.

The current study was aimed at evaluating malaria infection, haemoglobin and proteinuria among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at New Era Hospital, Aba. Sixty pregnant women between the ages of 15 and 40 years who consented to the study participated. Their demographic data were collected with structured questionnaires. 3ml venous blood were collected from each of the woman for thick blood film malaria microscopy and Haemoglobin estimation by haematocrit method. Also, urinalysis was carried out on the women using medi-test combi-9 urine strip. The total prevalence of malaria was observed to be 48(80.0%). Age group of 26-30 years had the highest prevalence of 17(28.3%) while the least was observed among those within the age group of 15-20years at 2(3.3%). The Highest prevalence was recorded by Gestation stage of 1-10 weeks at 5(100.0%) while the least was recorded by Gestation stage of 11-20 weeks at 11(18.3%). The women with Haemoglobin value range of 61-70% had highest malaria prevalence of 28(46.7%) while those within the HB range of 81-90% tested negative for malaria infection. Furthermore, most of the pregnant women whose urine showed presence of protein were mostly infected with malaria at 8(88.8%). More efforts should be made to control malaria among the populace, also pregnant women with proteins in their urine should be further tested for malaria to avoid the adverse effects of malaria in pregnancy.