Foghi BO*, Nduka FO and Nzeako SO
Pregnant women and children under the age of five are mostly affected because of their level of immunity. WHO have outlines various intervention measures for the control of malaria which include the use of long-lasting insecticidal treated nets, indoor residual spraying, intermittent preventive treatment and prompt and early treatments of confirmed cases. The aim of this study is to evaluate malaria parasitaemia and the level of compliance to the various WHO intervention measures in Delta State. 5 ml of venous blood was drawn from 1000 consenting pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Delta State, Nigeria. Malaria parasite detection was done by microscopic examination of thin and thick blood films. Intervention measures were evaluated using a structured questionnaire, data obtained was analysed using measures of central tendency and student T-test. Out of the 1000 pregnant women examined, 624(62.4%) tested positive for the P. falciparum parasite with the age group; 21-30 year having the highest prevalence of 70.9%. Primigravidae had the highest prevalence of 68.9% while women in their first trimester had (80.6%) prevalence. Women that slept under insecticide treated nets had a prevalence of 156(46.6%), intermittent preventive treatment had 109(56.5%), indoor residual spraying had 186(79.49%), early diagnosis and prompt treatment had 47(74.60%) prevalence. Pregnant women should be encouraged on the use of various WHO interventions through health education.
Published Date: 2021-12-23; Received Date: 2021-12-03
