| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2017 | Volume
: 19
| Issue : 1 | Page : 43-48 |
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Co-infection of malaria and intestinal parasites among pregnant women in Edo State, Nigeria
Frederick O Akinbo Ph.D. 1, Taiwo A Olowookere1, Christopher E Okaka2, Mathew O Oriakhi3
1 Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
2 Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Central Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
Correspondence Address:
Frederick O Akinbo
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State
Nigeria
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/jomt.jomt_42_16
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Background: Parasitic infection is a cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted to determine the co-infection of Plasmodium falciparum and intestinal parasites among the pregnant women in Edo State, Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: A total of 601 participants, consisting of 401 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics and 200 non-pregnant controls, were recruited in this study. The blood and stool specimens were collected from each participant. P. falciparum and intestinal parasites were diagnosed using standard techniques.
Results: An overall prevalence of 43.1% of co-infection of P. falciparum and intestinal parasites was observed among the pregnant women. P. falciparum parasitaemia prevalence was 24.9%, whereas the prevalence of intestinal parasites was 18.2%. The most common co-infections among the pregnant women were either P. falciparum/Entamoeba histolytica (16.7%) or P. falciparum/Ascaris lumbricoides (16.7%). Pregnancy status, gestational age and anaemia correlated with the co-infection of P. falciparum/intestinal parasites.
Conclusion: Measures to reduce P. falciparum/intestinal parasite co-infection and their effect on pregnant women are advocated.
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