Abstract

BURDEN OF MALARIA IN PREGNANCY AT HAZARIBAG DISTRICT OF JHARKHAND, INDIA

Shayan Shakeel*, Ajay Kr Sharma, Mohd Sohail, M Raziuddin

ABSTRACT

Background: In India, Malaria is not uniformly distributed. Malaria in pregnancy, especially when caused by P. falciparum, poses substantial risk to the mother and foetus by increasing the risk of foetal death, prematurity, low birth weight and maternal anaemia. Given the large population at risk, a cohort study was conducted in order to better define the burden of malaria in pregnancy in Jharkhand, a malaria-endemic state in central-east India. Methods: A cohort study at antenatal clinics and delivery units were performed over a 12-month at Hazaribag district of Jharkhand. Malaria was diagnosed by Giemsa stained blood smear using peripheral blood. Results: 1271, pregnant women were enrolled at the antenatal clinics and 870 at the delivery units 5.3 % (68/1271) of antenatal clinic cohort had a positive diagnostic test for malaria. Among delivery unit participants, 4.2 % (37/870) had peripheral parasitaemia. Women attending delivery units were more likely to be parasitaemic if they were in their first or second pregnancy or had rural residence. Malaria control measures including indoor residual spraying and untreated bed nets were common, whereas insecticide-treated bed nets and malaria chemoprophylaxis were rarely used. Conclusion: The prevalence of malaria among pregnant women was relatively low. There is a need to enhance ITN availability and use for prevention of Malaria in pregnancy (Mip).

Keywords: Malaria, Cohort, pregnancy, parasitaemia.