Malaria Infections in Pregnant Women in Mozambique
Author Information
Author(s): Mayor Alfredo, Serra-Casas Elisa, Bardají Azucena, Sanz Sergi, Puyol Laura, Cisteró Pau, Sigauque Betuel, Mandomando Inacio, Aponte John J, Alonso Pedro L, Menéndez Clara
Primary Institution: Centre de Recerca en Salut Internacional de Barcelona, Hospital Clínic/Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer
Hypothesis
How do sub-microscopic infections of Plasmodium falciparum affect disease manifestation in pregnant women?
Conclusion
More accurate and sensitive diagnostic indicators of malaria infection in pregnancy are needed to improve malaria control.
Supporting Evidence
- Prevalence of malaria by microscopy was 5.3% and by RT-PCR was 23.2%.
- Sensitivity of microscopy compared to RT-PCR was 22.7%.
- Risk of maternal anaemia was higher in PCR-positive women than in PCR-negative women.
- Recrudescence occurred in 21% of women with consecutive malaria episodes during the same pregnancy.
Takeaway
Pregnant women can have malaria infections that are too small to see with regular tests, which can still make them sick. We need better tests to find these infections.
Methodology
Real-time PCR was used to assess the presence of Plasmodium falciparum in blood samples from pregnant women, and genotyping was performed to identify recrudescences.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in self-reported symptoms and the reliance on specific diagnostic methods.
Limitations
The study may not represent all pregnant women in Mozambique due to its specific rural setting.
Participant Demographics
70.9% of participants were aged 20-34 years, and 59.4% were in their second to fourth pregnancies.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.026
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.09–3.36
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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