Prevalence and Correlates of Asymptomatic Malaria and Anemia on First Antenatal Care Visit among Pregnant Women in Southeast, Tanzania

Eulambius M. Mlugu, Omary Minzi, Appolinary A. R. Kamuhabwa and Eleni Aklillu
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Eulambius M. Mlugu: Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska, University Hospital, Huddinge, 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
Omary Minzi: Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam 0702172, Tanzania
Appolinary A. R. Kamuhabwa: Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam 0702172, Tanzania
Eleni Aklillu: Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska, University Hospital, Huddinge, 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-16

Abstract: Asymptomatic malaria and anemia during pregnancy increase the risk of negative birth outcomes. This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence and correlates of asymptomatic malaria and anemia during first antenatal care (ANC) visit among pregnant women in a rural district, Tanzania. HIV-uninfected pregnant women without symptoms of malaria ( n = 819) attending their first ANC at Kibiti Health Centre were enrolled from February 2017 to February 2018. Asymptomatic malaria was detected by malaria rapid-diagnostic tests (mRDT) and real-time PCR. Hemoglobin concentration was determined by HemoCue Hemoglobin 201+. The study outcomes were the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria and anemia (Hemoglobin level <11 g/dL). The overall prevalence of asymptomatic malaria was 36.4% (95% CI: 33.1, 39.8). The monthly prevalence of asymptomatic malaria remained >25% throughout the year, and the highest prevalence (40%) was recorded during the rainy season. Asymptomatic malaria was significantly associated with primigravida, younger maternal age, and anemia. The prevalence of anemia was 68.5% (95% CI: 65.2, 71.6). Asymptomatic malaria, primigravida, younger maternal age and low Body Mass Index were significant predictors of low hemoglobin concentration. We report high prevalence of asymptomatic malaria and anemia among pregnant women on the first ANC visit. Screening of malaria and anemia during the first ANC visit is recommended for targeted interventions.

Keywords: pregnancy; pregnant women; malaria; asymptomatic malaria; anemia; antenatal care (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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