ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Malaria during pregnancy remains a serious public health problem. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence and possible risk factors for malaria in pregnant women attending antenatal care at Augusto Ngangula Specialized General Hospital in Luanda, Angola. METHODS: Pregnant women (679 total) who attended antenatal care from April to September 2008 were included in the study after signing informed consent. For each participant, the social-demographic profile and malaria and obstetric histories were investigated via a questionnaire. Diagnosis was made by optic microscopy, and hemoglobin concentration measured. The associations between age, parity, gestational age, residence, schooling, malaria during gravity, anemia and treatment with incidence of Plasmodium falciparum infection were analyzed through logistic regression. RESULTS: During the period of study, 74 (10.9%) out of 679 women were infected by P. falciparum. The average concentration of hemoglobin was 11.1 ± 0.07 g/dL, and there were significant associations between the history of malaria during pregnancy, P. falciparum infection (p<0.01) and anemia at the time of observation (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Previous history of malaria during pregnancy represents a risk factor for current infection and anemia was an important complication associated with malaria, even in women who were treated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine during pregnancy.
Subject(s)
Malaria, Falciparum/epidemiology , Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic/epidemiology , Prenatal Diagnosis/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Adult , Angola/epidemiology , Antimalarials/therapeutic use , Child , Drug Combinations , Female , Humans , Malaria, Falciparum/diagnosis , Malaria, Falciparum/drug therapy , Middle Aged , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic/diagnosis , Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic/drug therapy , Prevalence , Pyrimethamine/therapeutic use , Risk Factors , Socioeconomic Factors , Sulfadoxine/therapeutic use , Young AdultABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Malaria during pregnancy remains a serious public health problem. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence and possible risk factors for malaria in pregnant women attending antenatal care at Augusto Ngangula Specialized General Hospital in Luanda, Angola. METHODS: Pregnant women (679 total) who attended antenatal care from April to September 2008 were included in the study after signing informed consent. For each participant, the social-demographic profile and malaria and obstetric histories were investigated via a questionnaire. Diagnosis was made by optic microscopy, and hemoglobin concentration measured. The associations between age, parity, gestational age, residence, schooling, malaria during gravity, anemia and treatment with incidence of Plasmodium falciparum infection were analyzed through logistic regression. RESULTS: During the period of study, 74 (10.9%) out of 679 women were infected by P. falciparum. The average concentration of hemoglobin was 11.1 ± 0.07g/dL, and there were significant associations between the history of malaria during pregnancy, P. falciparum infection (p<0.01) and anemia at the time of observation (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Previous history of malaria during pregnancy represents a risk factor for current infection and anemia was an important complication associated with malaria, even in women who were treated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine during pregnancy.
INTRODUÇÃO: A malária na gravidez continua a ser um grave problema de saúde pública. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a prevalência e possíveis fatores de risco para a malária, em mulheres grávidas que foram atendidas em consultas pré-natal, no Hospital Geral Especializado Augusto Ngangula, em Luanda, Angola. MÉTODOS: De abril a setembro de 2008, 679 mulheres grávidas foram envolvidas no estudo após consentimento informado. O perfil sócio demográfico e história de malária e obstetrícia foram investigados através de um questionário. O diagnóstico foi efetuado por microscopia óptica e determinou-se ainda as concentrações da hemoglobina. Através da regressão logística foi analisada a associação entre a idade, paridade, tempo de gestação, residência, escolaridade, malária durante a gravidez, anemia e tratamento com a infecção por Plasmodium falciparum. RESULTADOS: Setenta e quatro (10,9%) das 679 mulheres estavam infectadas com P. falciparum. O valor médio da concentração da hemoglobina foi de 11,1 ± 0,07g/dL, encontrando-se uma associação significativa entre história de malária na gravidez e infecção por P. falciparum (p<0,01) e anemia no momento da observação (p<0.001). CONCLUSÕES: A história de malária anterior na gravidez foi um fator de risco para uma infecção atual e a anemia uma complicação importante associada à malária, mesmo em mulheres que receberam tratamento durante a gravidez com sulfadoxina-pirimetamina.