592 Original article https://doi.org/10.12980/apjtd.7.2017D7-5 ©2017 by the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease. All rights reserved. Malaria prevalence in pregnant women receiving antenatal care at the health centre of University of Uyo, Nigeria Peace Edwin Ubulom 1 , Ette Okon Ettebong 2* , Ekaete Ibanga Akpabio 3 , Edu Okon Ibokette 4 1 Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Parasitology Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Uyo, Nigeria 2 Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Uyo, Nigeria 3 Pharmaceutical Technology Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics/Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Nigeria 4 Environmental Health Management Unit, Centre for Wetlands and Waste Management Studies, University of Uyo, Nigeria Asian Pac J Trop Dis 2017; 7(10): 592-595 Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease journal homepage: http://www.apjtcm.com *Corresponding author: Ette Okon Ettebong, Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Uyo, Nigeria. Tel: +2348027900141 E-mail: ettebong@yahoo.com The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of University of Uyo. All doctors and laboratory staff of the clinic involved in the study were briefly informed the objectives of the study. Consent was sought from the patients to participate in the study and only those who consented were enrolled for the study. The journal implements double-blind peer review practiced by specially invited international editorial board members. 1. Introduction Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease affecting humans and other animals, and it is caused by the parasitic protozoans of the genus Plasmodium. Malaria parasites (Plasmodium spp.) are transmitted from one person to another by female anopheline mosquitoes. An estimated 216 million cases of malaria occurred between 2000 and 2015 and the African sub-region accounted for 90%. There were 655 000 deaths due to malaria between 2000 and 2015 with 91% in the African region, and 86% were pregnant women and children under 5 years of age. Nigeria accounts for nearly 50% of the global malaria deaths[1]. Malaria has become one of the most challenging infectious diseases to eradicate in Africa. It imposes substantial costs to both individuals and governments. The disease has social consequences and exerts a heavy burden on economic development[2,3]. Malaria is responsible for significant morbidity in pregnant women and is a major cause of perinatal mortality, maternal anaemia and intrauterine foetal growth retardation[4-6]. Pregnant women have increased incidence of major complications of malaria[7]. A pregnant woman infected with the malaria parasite on established infection often suffers from febrile attacks and physical examination may reveal jaundice, tachycardia (abnormal rapidity of the heartbeat), tachypnoea (abnormal rapidity in breathing) and hepatosplenomegaly (enlargement of the liver and the spleen), and urine test may reveal proteinuria and slight haematuria[8,9]. Malaria in pregnancy contributes significantly to higher rates of miscarriages, intrauterine demise, premature delivery, low birth weight and neonatal death[10-12]. Despite massive anti-malaria campaigns and preventive measures across the African sub- continent, such as access to intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) and insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) from governments, non- government organizations and corporate bodies, malaria especially in pregnant women still persists. The aim of this research was to assess the prevalence of malaria in pregnant women receiving antenatal care at the health centre of the town campus of University of Uyo, Nigeria. ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the prevalence of malaria among pregnant women receiving antenatal care at the health centre of the town campus of University of Uyo, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 1 171 pregnant women participated in the present study. Structured questionnaire was administered to obtain relevant demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants. Thin blood films were obtained and examined for malaria parasites. Data obtained were analyzed using the statistical software SPSS version 20. Results: The results obtained showed that out of the 1 171 pregnant women, 61 (5.21%) were positive for malaria infection. The month of July recorded the highest prevalence [19.70% (12 cases)], while February, April and June had the lowest prevalence [11.50% (7 cases) each]. Results obtained from Chi-square test indicated that the difference in the prevalence of malaria in relation to age was statistically significant (χ 2 cal = 16.616, χ 2 tab = 7.815, P < 0.05). The difference in the prevalence of malaria based on occupation was not significant (χ 2 cal = 3.474, χ 2 tab = 9.488, P > 0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence rate of malaria infection among pregnant women was low in the present study. However, malaria in pregnancy still remains a health-care concern in our communities. Article history: Received 12 Jan 2017 Received in revised form 13 Jul 2017 Accepted 28 Aug 2017 Available online 25 Sep 2017 Keywords: Malaria Prevalence Pregnant women Health centre