Prevalence and Trend of Malaria Among Pregnant Mothers in Nsukka Lga of Enugu State Nigeria: Implication for Physical Fitness

C.C. IGBOKWE; D.A. ANIODO; A.N. ODO

Volume : IV, Issue : VIII, August - 2014

Prevalence and Trend of Malaria Among Pregnant Mothers in Nsukka Lga of Enugu State Nigeria: Implication for Physical Fitness

C. C. Igbokwe, D. A. Aniodo, A. N. Odo

Abstract :

The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence rate of malaria among pregnant mothers in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State (2008–2012). Three research questions and one hypothesis guided the study. The descriptive survey of expost–facto design was adopted for the study. The population consisted of all pregnant mothers that attended health facilities in Nsukka LGA. The antenatal case folders were used. A total number of 11,094 malaria cases were found out and used for the study. The instrument for data collection was researchers designed inventory proforma. Data generated were analyzed using frequency and percentages. The Chisquare statistic was used to test the null hypothesis. The result showed that the highest prevalence rate of malaria in pregnancy was recorded in 2008 (210.1 per 1000) while the lowest prevalence rate was recorded in 2012 (147.0 per 1000); age was a factor in the prevalence of malaria among pregnant mothers; and there was a fluctuating prevalence trend of malaria among pregnant mothers for the five years. Based on these findings, the researchers recommended among others that, increased awareness campaign and intervention strategies by the roll–back malaria programme should be maintained to ensure continuous reduction of malaria among pregnant mothers.