Anthropometric Estimates and Comparative Evaluation of Diagnostic Methods for Malaria Parasitemia in Pregnant Women and newborn babies in Southwestern Nigerian Communities

Akintaju, F.A. and Akinduti, P. A. and Oloto, W.E.F. and Ogundahunsi, O.A. (2024) Anthropometric Estimates and Comparative Evaluation of Diagnostic Methods for Malaria Parasitemia in Pregnant Women and newborn babies in Southwestern Nigerian Communities. COVENANT JOURNAL OF HEALTH AND LIFE SCIENCES, 2 (1). p. 8.

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Abstract

Malaria in low-birth-weight newborns affects the prognosis. The anthropometric estimates and comparative evaluation of diagnostic methods for malaria parasitemia in pregnant women and newborn babies in southwest Nigerian communities was investigated in this study. Demography, BMI of mothers and anthropometric data of the newborn children were analysed for malaria infection risk. Venous blood sample from pregnant mothers (n=112) attending routine antenatal clinics and the cord blood during delivery of the newborn (n=112) were analysed Plasmodium infection and comparative evaluation of the diagnostic performance of Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT), Giemsa Microscopy and PCR assay were evaluated for specificity and sensitivity using the multivariate logistic analysis. Among the pregnant women from various tribes, 90.9% were of the Yoruba tribe, 70.2% had secondary school education, 63.6% belonged to mid-income class, 72.7% had received Intermittent preventive treatment (IRT) and 37.5% slept under ITN (p<0.05). A significant decrease in average BMI of the malaria positive mothers from all study locations (28.18 Kg/m2, 25.05 Kg/m2 and 26.30 Kg/m2) was observed compared to the average BMI of the non- infected pregnant mothers (p= 0.034). The anthropometric values of infected babies significantly decreased in chest circumference ranging between 20.44 to 21.83cm compared 23.15cm in uninfected babies (p<0.05). The average malaria parasite density in infected mothers and babies (18,345 and 6,486 per 200WBC) with higher prevalence of 11.78% and 8.00% respectively of Plasmodium falciparum was found in infected mothers and infected babies respectively, compared to other Plasmodium species. Higher Plasmodium detection rate by PCR (21.62%) for both mothers and babies compared to microscopy and RDT was recorded. Poor education, poverty and poor use of preventive measures are major risk factors for the high prevalence of malaria among pregnant women. PCR-based methods should be considered as part of diagnosis for early detection of mother-to-child transmission of malaria and reduction of risk of infection for the newborn particularly in endemic areas.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Anthropometric, Malaria Parasite, P. falciparum, Pregnant Women, Newborn babies
Subjects:	Q Science > QH Natural history Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QR Microbiology
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences > School of Biological Sciences
Depositing User:	ORIGBOEYEGHA
Date Deposited:	19 Jul 2024 13:47
Last Modified:	19 Jul 2024 13:53
URI:	http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/id/eprint/18260

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