Abstract
BackgroundPlacental malaria (PM) is a major public health problem associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as low birth weight (LBW), preterm delivery and maternal anemia. The present study is aimed to determine the prevalence of placental malaria among asymptomatic pregnant women in Wolkite health center, Gurage zone, Southern Ethiopia.MethodFacility-based cross-sectional study was carried out from June 2019 to August 2019. A total of 230 pregnant women were involved in the study where socio-demographic data, medical and obstetric history were collected using pretested structured questionnaires. Blood samples were collected at delivery from maternal capillary, placenta and umbilical cord for the detection of malarial parasite. Maternal hematocrit was determined to screen for anemia.ResultIn this study, the prevalence of placental malaria, peripheral malaria and umbilical cord malaria was 3.9% (9/230), 15.2% (35/230) and 2.6% (6/230) respectively. Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax were detected by microscopy. All babies with positive umbilical cord blood films were born from a mother with placental malaria. Maternal anemia was recorded in 58.3% of the women. In univariate analysis, placental malaria was significantly associated with LBW (p < 0.001) unlike parity and maternal anemia.ConclusionPlacental malaria among asymptomatic pregnant women is low in Wolkite health centre, Gurage zone in Southern Ethiopia. Moreover, placental malaria was strongly associated with LBW. Thus, further strengthening the existing prevention and control activities and screening of asymptomatic pregnant women as part of routine antenatal care service is very essential.
Highlights
Placental malaria (PM) is a major public health problem associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as low birth weight (LBW), preterm delivery and maternal anemia
Placental malaria among asymptomatic pregnant women is low in Wolkite health centre, Gurage zone in Southern Ethiopia
Placental malaria was strongly associated with LBW
Summary
Placental malaria (PM) is a major public health problem associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as low birth weight (LBW), preterm delivery and maternal anemia. Placental malaria infection is characterized by the accumulation of parasitized red blood cells (pRBCs) in placental intervillous spaces that express unique membrane-bound proteins from the P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein-1 (PfEMP-1) to bind to host receptors like chondroitin sulfate A (CSA) in the placental intervillous space leading to placental malaria (PM) [5]. It is associated with increased risk of maternal anemia, LBW, preterm delivery, intrauterine growth restriction, reduced fetal anthropometric parameters, fetal anemia, and congenital malaria [6]
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