ABSTRACT

The effect of malaria on HIV-infected individuals has been explored with the parasitic infection increasing the risk of HIV disease progression and mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Pregnant women with HIV are at a greatly increased risk of malaria even ifthey were previously immune to the organism. The study was carried out to determine and compare the haematological profile of malaria among HTV and non-HIV pregnant women in Aba, Abia State. Blood samples from 625 pregnant women attending antenatal care in Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) and New Era Hospital were used for the screening of HIV, malaria parasite and other haematological parameters. The blood samples were examined using Giemsa stained thick and thin films. Structured questionnaires were also administered to the women from whom blood samples were collected to obtain socio-demographic and obstetrical information. The result showed an overall malaria prevalence of 286 (45.8%) in the study area 193 (46.4%) malaria prevalence was recorded among the non-HIV pregnant women examined while the HIV blood samples examined revealed a prevalence of 93 (44.5%). Malaria prevalence did not differ significantly with respect to marital status, religion or education (P>0.05). Among the non-HIV infected group, participants who were in their early reproductive age had higher prevalence than older women while women who were in their mid reproductive age among the HIV infected group had a higher prevalence than those in their late forties. However, in both groups prevalence was not statistically significant with their ages (P>0.05). No significant association (P=0.269) was observed on the level of parasite density in relation to their HIV status. The haematological indices were statistically lower among the non-HIV malaria infected group than in their malaria negative group (controls) (P <0.05). Similarly, the haematological indices among the HIV malaria infected group also revealed a statistically lower mean values than the HIV malaria negative group (P>0.05). Prevalence of anemia and thrombocytopenia were observed to be significantly associated with malaria infection (P<0.05) among the non-HIV groups with an exception to leucopenia in both groups (P>0.05). Age, trimester, malaria and CD4 counts were observed as predictors of anaemia, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia among the HIV infected groups while among the non-HIV, gravidity and trimesters were significantly and independently associated with anaemia and thrombocytopaenia. Bivariate logistic regression analysis showed a close association of gravidity and malaria to the CD4+ counts among the HIV infected group. Malaria in pregnancy is a common and serious public health problem facing our continent as a result, continuous monitoring of hematological p