Prevalence and risk factors for Plasmodium falciparum malaria in pregnant women of eastern Sudan

Abstract

Background: Pregnant women are more susceptible to malaria, which is associated with serious adverse effects on pregnancy. The presentation of malaria during pregnancy varies according to the level of transmission in the area. Our study aimed to demonstrate the prevalence and risk factors for malaria (age, parity and gestational age) among pregnant women of eastern Sudan, which is characterized by unstable malaria transmission.

Prevalence and risk factors for Plasmodium falciparum malaria in pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso)

“…This agrees with findings not only in areas of stable transmission of malaria [25],[33] but also in areas with unstable transmission [23],[34]. Anaemia was the main complication of malaria infection found in our study and remains the most frequent consequence of malaria during pregnancy irrespective of transmission level and pre-pregnancy level of malaria immunity [35].…”

“…In Mali, parity was significantly associated with malaria infection only when the analysis was not adjusted for age [21]. Other authors found no association between parity and malaria infection [19],[23],[25]. In the present study and as well as in that of Adam et al .…”

“…In the present study and as well as in that of Adam et al . [23], age was not significantly associated with malaria infection in contrast to the previous observations [19],[21],[22]. Previous sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine chemoprophylaxis was not associated with the prevalence of malaria infection when adjusted for different factors .…”

“…Factors influencing malaria prevalence in pregnant women include maternal age, parity, use of prophylaxis, nutrition, host and parasite genetics and level of anti-parasitic immunity [18] with conflicting data concerning maternal age and parity depending on urban or rural setting [19]-[23]. So far, only one study had investigated the risk factors of malaria during pregnancy in Burkina Faso [5].…”

Pregnancy and Infection

“…20 Young maternal age may be an additional and independent risk factor for malaria during pregnancy. The third trimester of gestation has been associated with the highest risk of clinical malaria in some studies 40 but not others. 39 However, maternal parasitemia, placental parasite burden, and episodes of clinical malaria may be expressions of disease severity rather than of initial susceptibility in areas with a high prevalence of malaria.…”