Malaria Parasite Density and Anaemia in Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Consultation in the Regional Hospital Bamenda, Cameroon

Aims: The aims were to investigate the variation of malaria parasite density (GMPD) with sociodemographic and pregnancy related characteristics; the prevalence of anaemia and anamia levels; assess the variation of malaria parasite density (GMPD) with level of anaemia; and to assess the variation of anaemia levels with parity among malaria parasite infected pregnant women attending ANC.

Study Design: It was a cross-sectional hospital-based study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at the ANC unit of the Bamenda Regional Hospital.

Methodology: Pregnant women with malaria parasitaemia from a preliminary study were involved in this study. A questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics and pregnancy related parameters. Capillary blood samples were used for the preparation of thick and thin blood smears for malaria parasite microscopy; determination of haemoglobin concentration and WBC count. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Kruskal-Wallis’ test was used to assess differences in GMPD. The student t-test was used to determine the variation of GMPD with trimester, parity and level of anaemia while the χ2 and OR were used to compare the prevalence of anaemia. P-values < .05 were considered significant.

Results: GMPD was higher in second trimester (475±510) than first trimester (261±190) (P=.00), higher at third trimester (300±206) than first trimester (261±190) (t=12.7, P=.01) as well as in second trimester than in third (t=2.3, P=.03). Participants with malaria parasitaemia were at 7 times more odds to have anaemia (OR = 6.8; P=.001). The prevalence of mild anaemia was higher in women who were positive for malaria parasitaemia (17; 37.8%), (N=45) than those who were negative (19; 9.3%). Moderate anaemia was higher in women with positive malaria parasitaemia (2; 4.4%) than those who were negative (1; 0.5%) (χ2= 30.2; P=.01). GMPD was higher in mild anaemic (650±523/µL) than in non-anaemic (236±469/µL) participants (t= 2.5; P=.03).

Conclusion: GMPDs vary with trimester while mild and moderate anaemias were present. Higher GMPDs were observed in mild anaemia than others. Anaemia levels were most recorded among the primigravidae. Frequent checks on GMPD and haemoglobin level on primigravidae could reduce severe malaria anaemia in pregnancy.