Association between Placenta Malaria Parasites and Preeclampsia/Eclampsia among Parturient Mothers in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki

Abstract

In tropical countries, malaria and preeclampsia/eclampsia are common diseases of pregnancy; and placenta have been implicated in the pathophysiology of both disease processes. The two diseases have pathophysiologic similarities in the placenta such as placenta ischaemia, endothelial dysfunction and production of pro-inflammatory cytokine. Yet, there is paucity of studies on the association of these two disease processes. Determining the association between the two disease processes may help to unravel the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and also help in its prevention and patient management. Objective: Determined the association between placenta malaria parasitemia and preeclampsia/eclampsia among parturients at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki. Materials and Methods: This was a case control study that was conducted in the Labour wards of department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AEFUTHA) and Mile 4 Missionary Hospital Abakaliki, a comprehensive health care centre in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state. It was conducted over a period of 6 months between 1 st October 2021 and 31 st March, 2022. The cases in this study were parturients that developed preeclampsia/eclampsia in the course of pregnancy, while the controls were parturient without preeclampsia/eclampsia. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, obstetrics and medical histories. Histological examinations were conducted to isolate plasmodium falciparum parasites from placenta samples obtained from the maternal surface of the placenta. The data was processed using Epi Info software.