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Searching for simpler sensitive diagnostic methods for assessing malaria prevalence during pregnancy in resource constrained setting


C.A. Ihemanma
P.E. Melariri
W.O. Sibanda
P.E. Etusim

Abstract

Background: Malaria infection during pregnancy causes maternal mortality with severe consequences for the foetus and infant. This research was aimed at assessing prevalence and clinical symptoms via urinalysis among pregnant women.
Method: A cross-sectional study involving 300 pregnant women purposively selected from six health care centres was conducted. Data were analysed  using SPSS version 26.
Results: The overall malaria prevalence rate was 48% (n=143). Age group ≤25 years had the highest prevalence rate of 55.8% (n=68). Pregnant women in  their first and second trimester had prevalence rate of 49% (n=101) and 49% (n=77) respectively, while the primigravidae recorded the highest prevalence  rate of 56% (n=91). Logistic regression revealed that women younger than 30 years old had lower odds of being malaria negative OR 0.96(95%Cl  0.56-1.65), P=0.87. Women in their first trimester had higher odds of being malaria negative by 1.01 (95%Cl 0.41-2.46), P=0.99. Women who used LLINs had higher odds of being malaria negative OR 4521746.902, P=0.0000.
Conclusion: Urinalysis revealed highest prevalence rate of 27.3% (n=82) for bilirubinuria (+) samples. Bilirubinuria in pregnancy could serve as a good  indicator for malaria.


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eISSN: 2467-8252
print ISSN: 2360-7793