Prevalence of Malaria Parasitemia among Pregnant Women Attending Ante-Natal Clinic at Bingham University Teaching Hospital Plateau State

In this study a prevalence of 29.1% malaria parasitemia among pregnant women attending Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BUTH) was recorded. The study also showed that multigravidae had the highest prevalence of malaria parasitemia 18.8%, followed by primigravidae who had the lowest prevalence of 10.3%. The age group of 26 to 30 years had the highest prevalence of 11.5% followed by the age group of 31 to 35 years (8.5%) while the least prevalence of 0.6% was in the age group of 41 to 45 years. Women in their first trimester had 2.4% prevalence followed by women in their second trimester who had the prevalence of 12.1% and those in their third trimester had the prevalence rate of 14.9%. The study also shows the result of pregnant women who use long-lasting insecticide treated nets had the highest prevalence of 17.0% while those who do not use the long-lasting insecticide treated nets had the lowest prevalence of 12.1%.  At the end of the study the result showed the prevalence rate of 29.1% of malaria parasitemia. Pregnancy is among other factors affecting the prevalence of malaria in pregnant women which is due to low immunity during pregnancy.   Keywords: Malaria; Parasitemia; Trimester; Pregnant women; Multigravidae