bjectives: Malaria infection during pregnancy is a major public
health problem and cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in
tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The aim of this
present study was to determine the effect of plasmodium parasitaemia
among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Sokoto, Nigeria.
Method: One hundred Plasmodium falciparum -parasitized pregnant women
aged 18-39 years (mean age 33.65 ± 10.25 years) constituted the subjects for
this case-control study. Fifty age -matched non-parasitized pregnant women
were monitored as controls. Haematological parameters; packed cell volume
(PCV), total white cell count and platelet count was determined using
standard methods in subjects and control participants. Differences in
haemotological values were compared statistically for any differences.
Results: The mean PCV, total white cell count and platelet count of
plasmodium parasitized and non-parasitized pregnant participants was
(30.75± 2.66, 9.36±2.84 and 231.98±91.07) and (37.40±3.58, 4.81±1.16
and 288.72±54.44) respectively. There was a statistically significant
difference between the mean PCV and platelet count of subjects and controls
(p=0.001). Plasmodium falciparum was the predominant specie among the
parasitized subjects. A positive correlation was observed between parasite
density and thrombocytopenia and anaemia (r= 0.62 and 0.79 respectively,
p= 0.001) among parasitized subjects. The PCV and platelet count was
significantly lower among subjects with a high parasite load compared to
those with moderate parasite load (28.08±1.70 and 171.52± 48.77)
compared to (32.53± 1.38 and 171.52± 48.77) respectively (p=0.001). The
mean parasite density among the Plasmodium falciparum parasitized
subjects was 2520 ± 265 parasites/L (95% confidence interval 1955–3520).
Although the mean total white cell count was higher among Plasmodium
parasitized subjects compared to non-parasitized control, the difference
however was not statistically significant (p= 0.11).
Conclusion: Plasmodium parasitaemia has a significant impact on the
packed cell volume and platelet count of pregnant subjects. Preventative
strategies including regular chemoprophylaxis, intermittent preventative
treatment with antimalarials, provision of iron supplementation and
insecticide-treated bed nets should be implemented urgently to prevent the
negative impact of malaria parasitaemia on the haematological parameters of
pregnant women. There is need for community and peer-based awareness
and education programmes to strengthen the malaria prevention programme
by educating women on the benefits of regular antenatal clinic attendance
and the need to adhere to recommended malaria chemoprophylaxis during
the pregnancy.