Retention of Histidine-Rich Protein II Rapid Diagnostic Tests in Pregnant Women after Antimalarial Treatment

Abstract

Malaria is a preventable and curable disease and malaria diagnosis is critical to reduce malaria burden. This study is aimed at investigating the persistent positivity of Histidine-Rich Protein II (HRP2) rapid diagnostic test in pregnant women after antimalarial treatment. The study was carried out in Turai Yar’adua Maternity and Children’s Hospital Katsina and Federal Medical Centre Katsina. Blood samples were collected with the help of trained physicians. The result from this study shows that HRP2 persist more in the blood of pregnant women after treatment with fensider. It was observed that in all the age groups, day 3, day 7 and day 14 post drug treatment, were still positive for malaria using HRP2 malaria rapid diagnostic tool. The HRP2 was positive for all the different age group after 21 and 28 days post treatment except the age group 30-34 (97.5%). The percentage in the positivity result of pregnant women testing positive after treatment with malaria drug changed at 35 and 42 days post treatment in almost all the age groups. There was no statistical significant difference between the different age groups (p<0.05) in HRP2. The persistent positivity decreases in all the trimester at 35 and 42 days post treatment in HRP2. There was no statistical significant difference between the age of pregnancy p>0.05. The highest negative result was observed in the second trimester in 42 days post treatment. This therefore provides a useful data for improved malaria diagnosis, treatment and guide for pregnant women who are susceptible to malaria parasite.