Prevalence of Typhoid Infection among Pregnant Women Attending Specialist Hospital Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Typhoid fever is one of the major and common health problem worldwide. Typhoid fever caused by Salmonella typhi may be a cause of significant morbidity and mortality in both the mother and fetus in developing countries, where sanitation facilities, personal and food hygiene are inadequate. Thus, the present research was a cross-sectional study of Salmonella infection among pregnant women in Specialist Hospital Yola, Nigeria. The objectives of this study is to determine the prevalence of typhoid infection among pregnant women in Adamawa state in relation to age, educational level, occupation and location, explore factors associated with the infection and to provide information on its prevention and control strategies. Serological analyses (Widal test) and bacteriological analyses (stool culture) were carried out and compared among 313 participants. The results obtained showed that 209 (66.77%) of the participants were seropositive for typhoid fever, whereas 188 (60.06%) were positive based on bacteriological technique. Participants between age groups; 26-35 years old had the highest prevalence of 64.10%.There was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) between the prevalence of typhoid fever among the various age groups of the pregnant women examined. In relation to Educational level, participants with Non-formal education had the highest prevalence of typhoid infection 75.00%. There was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) between the prevalence of typhoid fever based on the educational level of the pregnant women examined. Based on occupation of the participants, women who were involved in farming recorded the highest prevalence rate of 88.37%.There was statistically significant difference (P< 0.05) between the prevalence of typhoid fever and the occupation of the pregnant women examined. With respect to the location of the participants, subjects belonging to Semi-urban areas recorded the highest prevalence of 80.98%. There was statistically significant difference (P< 0.05) between the prevalence of typhoid fever and the location of the pregnant women examined. Pregnancy state makes the women more vulnerable to typhoid fever by affecting the physiology of pivotal organs, as such causing complications in pregnant women therefore early and prompt diagnosis of the infection is essential.

Antenatal screenings and maternal diagnosis among pregnant women in Sao Tome & Principe—Missed opportunities to improve neonatal health: A hospital-based study

“…Blood culture is commonly used as the reference standard for typhoid diagnosis but requires sophisticated equipment not readily available in most SSAs, as in STP [39][40][41]. The Widal test is a quantitative agglutination test that identifies serum antibodies against Salmonella antigens O-somatic and H-flagellar, and in STP, it is performed once during pregnancy [41]. The test is considered positive if a convalescent phase serum sample has a fourfold higher titter than an acute sample [41].…”

“…The Widal test is a quantitative agglutination test that identifies serum antibodies against Salmonella antigens O-somatic and H-flagellar, and in STP, it is performed once during pregnancy [41]. The test is considered positive if a convalescent phase serum sample has a fourfold higher titter than an acute sample [41].…”

“…Typhoid fever is endemic in STP, as it is common in SSA, which lacks access to clean water and adequate sanitation and found on 14.8% of pregnant women [40,41]. However, the efficiency of the Widal test in diagnosing typhoid fever without other confirmatory tests is not of diagnostic value; thus, it should not be performed as a routine antenatal care practice in STP [53].…”

Antenatal Care in Sao Tome and Principe: Beyond the Number of Visits

“…Blood culture is commonly used as the reference standard for typhoid diagnosis but requires sophisticated equipment not readily available in most LMIC as in STP [36]. The Widal test is a quantitative agglutination test that identi es serum antibodies against Salmonella antigens O-somatic and H-agellar and in STP it is routinely performed once during pregnancy, regardless of the existence of any clinical suspicion [23]. The test is considered positive if a convalescent phase serum sample has a fourfold higher titter than an acute sample [23].…”

Molecular characterization of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine resistant malaria parasites among pregnant women in Anambra State, Nigeria

“…It is estimated that each year approximately 25 million pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa live at risk of P. falciparum malaria infection (WHO, 2017). Although malaria during pregnancy might be asymptomatic due to a high level of acquired immunity in mothers residing in high transmission areas (Fagbemi et al, 2020), it is still associated with an increased risk of maternal anemia, spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, prematurity, and low birth weight (Kwala et al, 2021).…”