title: Malaria and anaemia in pregnancy: a cross-sectional study of pregnant women in rural communities of Southeastern Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several strategies are used in the care of pregnant women accessing antenatal care in primary health centres in Nigeria, with the aim of reducing the burden of malaria and anaemia. The objective of the study was to appraise the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia and anaemia in pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in rural communities of Southeastern Nigeria where malaria preventive strategies are in place.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a cross-sectional study of 300 pregnant women receiving antenatal care in randomly selected primary health centres in the Nkanu West local government area (LGA), Enugu state, Nigeria from August to September 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of malaria parasitaemia was 92.0% (276/300) (mild in 86.7% [260/300] and moderate in 15.3% [16/300]). The prevalence of anaemia was 49.3% (148/300) (mild in 29.3% [88/300] and moderate in 20% [60/300]). There were no severe cases of malaria parasitaemia or anaemia. The educational status and occupation of participants were significantly associated with the occurrence of peripheral parasitaemia and anaemia respectively (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of malaria and anaemia is very high in the Nkanu West LGA of Enugu State, Nigeria. Efforts to reduce the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia and anaemia in pregnancy should be intensified in rural settings of Enugu state and Nigeria as a whole.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics/Gynaecology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria vajel@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Emmanuel O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Ugwu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics/Gynaecology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Cyril C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Dim
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Benjamin S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Uzochukwu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics/Gynaecology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Emeka I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Iloghalu
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology/Immunology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Angela O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ugwu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anaemia; Malaria parasitaemia; Nigeria; Pregnancy; Rural community