ISSN 2347-954X (Print) A Comparative Study of Intestinal Parasitic Carriage in Pregnant-Non Pregnant Women

Abstract: Intestinal parasitoses are a public health problem in developing countries. Our study aims to determine the frequency and contributing factors of intestinal parasitic infections in pregnant women are often exposed to the environment but also by their own behavior. This is a prospective descriptive study of prevalence conducted over a period of fifteen months from October 2009 to December 2010 in collaboration between the Department for Parasitology and Medical Mycology and Gynecology department obstetrics of the Military Hospital of Instruction Mohammed V (HMIM V) in Rabat. After establishing a information sheet (epidemiological data, medical history) and collected stool, stool examination was held in two stages: a macroscopic examination and microscopic examination. During the study period, we included 70 pregnant women of which 46 are parasitized, with an infection rate of 65.7% compared to 48.7% among 70 non-pregnant women examined, corresponding to a 17% difference between the two populations and that is statistically significant. No helminthes was found. Porting of protozoa with pathogenicity is encountered in 4.3% of pregnant women parasitized. 23 pregnant women are poly-parasitized, with 32.8% of the total sample. This study shows that the prevalence of intestinal parasitism is quite high in pregnant women. Several parasitic species are found. This finding can be explained by the poor living conditions and poor hygiene favoring endemicity and sustaining transmission. The impact on health is significant especially when compounded by malnutrition. The best way to fight against this scourge is prevention and awareness