ASYMPTOMATIC MALARIA AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN EDO STATE, NIGERIA

Malaria is a serious public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, with far reaching medical, social and economic consequences. Malaria during pregnancy is a major cause of fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria in pregnant women as well as the risk factors in acquiring asymptomatic malaria in Benin City, Nigeria. A total of 539 patients were recruited for this study. They consisted of 439 pregnant women attending clinics and 100 non-pregnant apparently healthy women served as controls. The age of the study participants ranged from 21 years to 45 years. Blood specimen was collected from each participant to detect malaria parasite and to determine haemoglobin concentration using standard techxsiaues. Pregnane v was significantly associated with asymptomatic malaria (OR=2.442 95%; CI= 1.498, 3.987; P=0.0004). Multiparous pregnant women and those who use only insecticide had significantly higher prevalence of asymptomatic malaria (p 0.0001 and P=0.0092, respectively). Age, gestational age, level of education, marital status, occupation, use of antimalarial, type of antimalarial and source of insecticide-treated bed nets had no significant effect on the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria among pregnant women (P 0.05). Pregnant women have a 1 to 4-fold increased risk of developing anaemia than non-pregnant women. Anaemia was associated with asymptomatic malaria among pregnant women (OR=2.268; 95%; CI=1.414, 3.637; P=.0009). The prevalence of asymptomatic malaria among pregnant women was 44.87% withmultiparous women and those that use only insecticide as preventive measure having higher prevalence of asymptomatic malaria. Measures to reduce asymptomatic malaria among ureenant women are advocated.