A rapid assessment approach for public health decision-making related to the prevention of malaria during pregnancy

ABSTRACT

Objective: To develop a rapid field assessment methodology to address the burden of malaria during pregnancy and the options for intervening within the existing antenatal care system in Kenya. Methods: Surveys consisting of questionnaires, sampling of blood for parasitaemia and anaemia, and birth outcome assessment were conducted in antenatal clinics, delivery units, and in the community in Ksumu and Mombasa, Kenya. Findings: T he ratges of maternal anaemia and severe anaemia, were, resctively, 79 cent and 8 cent in Kisumu, and 95 cent and 24 cent in Mombasa. The rates of placental parasitaemia were 27 cent and 24 cent and the ratges of low birth weight were 18 cent and 24 cent in Kisumu and Mombasa, respectively. Women with placental parasitaemia had a higher incidence of low birth wight compared with women without placental parasitaemai in both Kisumu (28 cent vs 16 cent,P=0.0004) and Mombasa (42 cent vs 20 cent, P=0.004). A total of 95 cent and 98 cent for women in Kisumu and Mombasa, respectively, reported attending an antenatal clinic during their previous pregnancy. Conclusion: This metodology can be used by ministries of health to collect data for decision-making regarding malaria control during pregnancy it can also privide a baseline measurement on which to evaluate subsequent interventions: