Searching for simpler sensitive diagnostic methods for assessing malaria prevalence during pregnancy in resource constrained setting

Abstract

Background: Malaria infection during pregnancy causes maternal mortality with severe consequences for the foetus and infant. This research was aimed at assessing prevalence and clinical symptoms via urinalysis among pregnant women.Method: A cross-sectional study involving 300 pregnant women purposively selected from six health care centres was conducted. Data were analysed  using SPSS version 26.Results: The overall malaria prevalence rate was 48% (n=143). Age group ≤25 years had the highest prevalence rate of 55.8% (n=68). Pregnant women in  their first and second trimester had prevalence rate of 49% (n=101) and 49% (n=77) respectively, while the primigravidae recorded the highest prevalence  rate of 56% (n=91). Logistic regression revealed that women younger than 30 years old had lower odds of being malaria negative OR 0.96(95%Cl  0.56-1.65), P=0.87. Women in their first trimester had higher odds of being malaria negative by 1.01 (95%Cl 0.41-2.46), P=0.99. Women who used LLINs had higher odds of being malaria negative OR 4521746.902, P=0.0000.Conclusion: Urinalysis revealed highest prevalence rate of 27.3% (n=82) for bilirubinuria (+) samples. Bilirubinuria in pregnancy could serve as a good  indicator for malaria.