Epidemiology of Salmonella Typhi among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at General Hospital Keffi, Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Typhoid fever is one of the major and common health problems worldwide. Caused by Salmonella typhi, it leads to morbidity and mortality in both mothers and fetuses in developing countries. This cross-sectional study examined Salmonella infection among pregnant women attending General Hospital Keffi, Nigeria. A serological analysis (Widal test) was carried out among one hundred (100) pregnant women. The results of this study show an overall prevalence of 31%. Participants in the age group 26-30 years had the highest prevalence of 9 (33.3%), followed by those aged 21-25 years with 15 (31.9%), then those under 20 years with 7 (31.8%), and the least among those over 31 years with 0 (0.0%). There was no statistical difference (P=0.72) between typhoid fever and age group. Women in their third trimester had the highest prevalence of 9 (62.1%), followed by the second trimester with 26 (54.1%), and the least was among those in their first trimester with 9 (60%). There was no statistically significant difference (P=0.88). Those with secondary education had the highest prevalence of 15 (32.6%), followed by those with informal education at 4 (30.7%), those with primary education at 7 (30.4%), and the least among those with tertiary education. There was no statistically significant difference (P=0.99). Urban residents had a higher prevalence of 27 (35.0%) compared to rural residents at 4 (17.3%). There was no statistically significant difference (P=0.18). Housewives had the highest prevalence of 19 (37.2%), followed by civil servants at 5 (33.3%), and traders with the least at 10 (23.8%). There was no statistically significant difference (P=0.53). Regarding the source of drinking water, users of stream/river water had the highest prevalence of 5 (100%), followed by well users at 22 (86.6%), then sachet/table water users at 4 (18.1%), followed by borehole users at 7 (17.0%), and the least was among tap water users at 3 (60.0%). There was no significant difference (P=0.68). Users of pit toilets had a higher prevalence of 24 (72.7%) compared to users of water closets at 7 (9.0%). There was no statistically significant difference (P=0.79). This study concludes that there is a high prevalence of Salmonella typhi at 31%. It is important to emphasize public awareness and early and prompt diagnosis to curb the spread of the disease in Nasarawa State, particularly among pregnant women in Keffi.