Nature and Science 2017;15(1) http://www.sciencepub.net/nature 10 Prevalence of Malaria Parasitaemia in Pregnant Women WHO Attended General Hospital Shendam, Plateau State, Nigeria James G. Damen 1 and Victoria M. Daminabo 2 1 Deaprtment of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, P.M.B. 2084, Jos, Plateau State 2 Department of Science Laboratory Technology, School of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt Polytechnic, Rumuola, P.M.B. 5936, Port Harcourt, Rivers State jamesgdamen@yahoo.com; babediko40@yahoo.com Abstract: Malaria infection during pregnancy is a major public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world. The study was designed to determine the prevalent of malaria parasitaemia among pregnant women who attended general hospital in shendam, Jos, Plateau State of Nigeria between the period of January and March, 2016. Participation was voluntary, pregnant women who gave consent to be part of the study were randomly selected. Questionnaires were distributed to the subjects to obtained demographic data. Blood samples were collected; thin and thick blood films were made and stained using Giemsa stain. The blood films were examined using oil immersion objective. The study revealed that an overall 5.6% of the 250 pregnant women were found to have malaria infections. It was found that women between the ages of 20-23 years had the highest prevalence of 2.0%. Highest prevalence of 3.6% was also recorded in non-formal education women. The results also showed that pregnant women in the first trimester recorded the highest prevalence of 4.8%. The study concludes that the low prevalence might be due to the intermittent prophylaxis given to pregnant women on antenatal care (ANC) and the use of long lasting insecticidal net by most pregnant women. [Damen, J. G and V. M. Daminabo. Prevalence of Malaria Parasitaemia in Pregnant Women Who Attended General Hospital Shendam, Plateau State, Nigeria. Nat Sci 2017;15(1):10-17]. ISSN 1545-0740 (print); ISSN 2375-7167 (online). http://www.sciencepub.net/nature . 3. doi:10.7537/marsnsj150117.03 . Keywords: Malaria infection, pregnant women, malaria parasitaemia, public health problem. Introduction Malaria is a life threatening parasitic disease transmitted by infected female anopheles mosquito Malaria has infected human over 50, 000 years and many have been a human pathogen for entire history of the species. Today malaria parasite remains one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality especially among children between the ages of 6 months to 5 years and pregnant women in Tropical and sub-tropical regions (WHO, 2001). Human malaria is caused by four (4) species of plasmodia; Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium malariae. The majority of malaria infection is caused by either Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, most malaria associated with deaths are due to Plasmodium falciparum. Mixed infections due to more than one malarial species occur in five (5) to seven (7) percent of infections (Cheesbrough, 1998). Malaria infection has been increasing over recent years due to a combination of factors such as increasing resistance of malarial parasites to a combination of malaria parasite to chemotherapy, resistance of the anopheles mosquito vector to insecticide and ecologic and climatic change (Sigh et al., 2004). Malaria during pregnancy has been most widely evaluated in Africa south of the Sahara, where 90% of the global malaria infection during pregnancy is caused mainly by Plasmodium falciparum which is the most common malaria species in Africa (Nosten et al, 1991). Every year at least three (3) million pregnancies occurs among women in malarious area of Africa, most of which resides in areas of relatively stable malaria transmission (Braham et al, 1990). Malaria affects all age group but children, pregnant women and unborn children, are more vulnerable to malaria which is major cause of perinatal mortality, low birth weight maternal anaemia, abortion and still birth (Achidi et al, 1996). Malaria infection during pregnancy is a major public health problem in Tropical and Sub-tropical Regions. Statement of the Problem Malaria is an endemic disease and the most highly prevalent tropical disease with high morbidity, mortality and high economic and social impact. Malaria infection during pregnancy is a major public health problem in Tropical and Sub-tropical Regions. Malaria in pregnant women is an important cause of still birth, infant mortality, low birth rate, maternal anaemia, abortion and prematurity. Women and unborn babies are vulnerable to malaria parasites; when pregnant women are infected with malaria parasites; large number of parasite accumulates in the