Malaria and Hepatitis-B Co-Infection Among Pregnant Women in Selected Health Facilities in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Abstract

This study was done to determine the prevalence of malaria and hepatitis B co-infection among pregnant women attending ante-natal in three health centers, samples were collected from Mbodo Aluu health care center, Igwuruta general hospital and Ozuaha primary health care center between August to November 2024. Ethical approval was sought from the ethics committee of the university of Port Harcourt and ministry of health Rivers State. Malaria parasite was determined using the gold standard microscopic procedure, while hepatitis B virus was determined using rapid serology assay diagnostic kit. Urinalysis was done using combi 9 dipstick stripe. Three hundred and eighty (380) consented subjects were examined. Two hundred and forty-seven (247) participated from Mbodo, one hundred and twenty-three (123) from Igwuruta and ten from Ozuaha. The total prevalence of Malaria in this study was 16.84%, hepatitis B 3.42% and Proteinuria 25.79%. Malaria and hepatitis B co-infection was 1.58%, malaria + proteinuria recorded a prevalence of 4.58%, hepatitis B + proteinuria recorded. The prevalence of 4.58%, malaria + hepatitis B + Proteinuria recorded 0.79%. Malaria and hepatitis B was significantly high among the age group from 20 below (2.94%) (p<0.5). The results also shows that the highest prevalence was among the second trimester (52.29%). The prevalence rate of malaria, Hepatitis B and their co-infections in the present study is relatively high. Therefore, it is recommended that regular screening of pregnant women for these Infections be sustained to forestall the undesirable consequences of these infections.