Assessment of haematological indices and age-related risk factors among malaria parasitized pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Benin City

Malaria remains a significant global health challenge, particularly affecting vulnerable populations such as pregnant women in endemic regions, contributing substantially to maternal morbidity and mortality despite concerted efforts to control the disease. The study aims to assess the hematological parameters and age-related risk factors among infected malaria pregnant women in Benin City. One hundred and ten (110) malaria- infected pregnant women constituted the subjects for this case-control study while 110 uninfected pregnant women were recruited as controls. A structured q u e s t i o n n a i r e w a s u s e d t o g a t h e r sociodemographic, clinical, and obstetric data. Malaria parasite density was determined and confirmed using a light microscope, blood smear-staining techniques, and rapid diagnostic tests (RDT). A total of 220 infected and uninfected pregnant women aged between 30.19±5.43 and 31.19± 5.55 years, were assessed. The pregnant women who were infected versus uninfected had a total granulocyte count of 58.37 ± 11.59 versus 67.1 ± 3.39 (p-value = 0.001). The lymphocyte counts in women infected versus uninfected with P. falciparum were 28.43±7.85 versus 40.52 ± 3.01(p-value = 0.001). The mid-levels in infected versus uninfected pregnant women, with a value of 13.11±6.37 versus 15.5 ±6.01 (p-value = 0.005). The Platelet levels in infected versus uninfected pregnant women, with values of 238.55 ± 68.53 versus 211.66 ± 97.17 (p-value = 001). Additionally, the packed cell volume was significantly lower among the malaria - infected subjects compared to the uninfected controls (32.57±4.25 versus 41.10±2.56; p-value = 001). The haemoglobin level was significantly lower among the malaria-infected pregnant women compared to the uninfected controls (10.43 ±1.33 versus 13.10 ± 1.32; p= 0.001). The younger expectant mothers were at a higher risk of malaria and anaemia compared to older pregnant women. A successful public health education program tailored to this vulnerable population must be created, and hospitals or healthcare facilities should implement routine Intermittent Preventive Treatment for malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) which involves the administration of antimalarial drugs at specific intervals to pregnant women in areas with moderate to high malaria transmission.