Comparative Study of Intestinal Parasitic Infection among Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women in Owerri, Nigeria: A Case Study of the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri

Abstract

A survey of intestinal parasites of pregnant and non-pregnant women attending the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria was carried out between November 2010 and April 2011. A total of 300 samples (150 from pregnant women and 150 from non – pregnant women respectively) were randomly collected from these women who attended the hospital. The samples were examined using the direct wet preparation and formol ether concentration technique. A total of 41 (13.67%) women were infected. The infected stool samples contained eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides (48.78%), Hookworm (39.02%), and Cysts of Entamoeba histolytica (12.20%). Although, more pregnant women (16(39.02%)), the difference was not statistically significant. The highest prevalence of 20% was observed in the pregnant women within the age – group of 27-30 while the age group of 19-22 years. The difference between the prevalence of infection in the age group was significant. However personal hygiene improved health education programs and supervised public toilets together with food vendor's education have been recommended as measures to eradicate intestinal parasitic infections among pregnant and non-pregnant women. It has been recommended that stool analysis should be part of the antenatal screening tests particularly in subjects with a high level of parasitemia.