Prevalence And Risk Factors Associated With Malaria Among Pregnant Women Presenting At Saint Kizito Hospital Matany

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Malaria in pregnancy (MiP) is a major public health problem in endemic

areas of sub-Saharan Africa and has important consequences on birth outcome. Because MiP is

a complex phenomenon and malaria epidemiology is rapidly changing, additional evidence is

still required to understand how best to control malaria.

OBJECTIVE: The study was conducted to find out the prevalence and risk factors associated

with malaria amongst pregnant women who presented from July 2013 to July 2014.

METHOD: The study design was a retrospective and descriptive survey carried out at Matany

Hospital. Data was obtained from the hospital records from July 2013 to July 2014.

RESULTS: The total number of admissions was 1861. A total of 213 cases had malaria in

pregnancy out of 1861 admissions.

The prevalence of malaria in pregnancy was 11.4%. Most of the mothers diagnosed with malaria

were between the ages of 15 to 24 years while those 35 years and above were list affected. Age

bracket of 15 to 24 had 112 mothers with malaria; 25 to 34 had 68 mothers, the second highest;

and 35 and above had 02 mothers.

Primigravidae had the majority of cases of malaria,68, with a percentage of 32% and the number

of cases decreased with increase in gravidity.

CONCLUSION: malaria is one of the leading causes of hospital admissions in Matany Hospital and it is associated with many complications including anemia and threatening abortion.