Malaria Burden in Pregnancy at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala; Uganda

ABSTRACT

Pregnancy-associated malaria is a major global health concern. To assess the Plasmodium falciparum burden in pregnancy we conducted a cross-sectional study at Mulago Hospital in Kampala; Uganda. Malaria prevalence by each of three measures-peripheral smear; placental smear; and placental histology was 9(35/391); 11.3(44/389); and 13.9(53/382) respectively. Together; smear and histology data yielded an infection rate of 15.5(59/380) of active infections and 4.5(17/380) of past infections; hence 20had been or were infected when giving birth. A crude parity dependency was observed with main burden being concentrated in gravidae 1 through gravidae 3. Twenty-two percent were afflicted by anaemia and 12.2delivered low birthweight babies. Active placental infection and anaemia showed strong association (OR=2.8) whereas parity and placental infection had an interactive effect on mean birthweight (P=.036). Primigravidae with active infection and multigravidae with past infection delivered on average lighter babies. Use of bednet protected significantly against infection (OR=0.56) whilst increased haemoglobin level protected against low birthweight (OR=0.83) irrespective of infection status. Albeit a high attendance at antenatal clinics (96.8); there was a poor coverage of insecticide-treated nets (32) and intermittent preventive antimalarial treatment (41.5)