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. 2021 May 1;20(1):211.
doi: 10.1186/s12936-021-03703-4.

Asymptomatic malaria and anaemia among pregnant women during high and low malaria transmission seasons in Burkina Faso: household-based cross-sectional surveys in Burkina Faso, 2013 and 2017

Toussaint Rouamba #  1   2 , Sékou Samadoulougou #  3   4 , Mady Ouédraogo  5   6 , Hervé Hien  7   8 , Halidou Tinto  9 , Fati Kirakoya-Samadoulougou  5
Affiliations

Asymptomatic malaria and anaemia among pregnant women during high and low malaria transmission seasons in Burkina Faso: household-based cross-sectional surveys in Burkina Faso, 2013 and 2017

Toussaint Rouamba et al. Malar J. .

Abstract

Background: Malaria in endemic countries is often asymptomatic during pregnancy, but it has substantial consequences for both the mother and her unborn baby. During pregnancy, anaemia is an important consequence of malaria infection. In Burkina Faso, the intensity of malaria varies according to the season, albeit the prevalence of malaria and anaemia as well as their risk factors, during high and low malaria transmission seasons is underexplored at the household level.

Methods: Data of 1751 pregnant women from October 2013 to March 2014 and 1931 pregnant women from April 2017 to June 2017 were drawn from two cross-sectional household surveys conducted in 24 health districts of Burkina Faso. Pregnant women were tested for malaria in their household after consenting. Asymptomatic carriage was defined as a positive result from malaria rapid diagnostic tests in the absence of clinical symptoms of malaria. Anaemia was defined as haemoglobin level less than 11 g/dL in the first and third trimester and less than 10.5 g/dL in the second trimester of pregnancy.

Results: Prevalence of asymptomatic malaria in pregnancy was estimated at 23.9% (95% CI 20.2-28.0) during the high transmission season (October-November) in 2013. During the low transmission season, it was 12.7% (95% CI 10.9-14.7) between December and March in 2013-2014 and halved (6.4%; 95% CI 5.3-7.6) between April and June 2017. Anaemia prevalence was estimated at 59.4% (95% CI 54.8-63.8) during the high transmission season in 2013. During the low transmission season, it was 50.6% (95% CI 47.7-53.4) between December and March 2013-2014 and 65.0% (95% CI 62.8-67.2) between April and June, 2017.

Conclusion: This study revealed that the prevalence of malaria asymptomatic carriage and anaemia among pregnant women at the community level remain high throughout the year. Thus, more efforts are needed to increase prevention measures such as IPTp-SP coverage in order to reduce anaemia and contribute to preventing low birth weight and poor pregnancy outcomes.

Keywords: Asymptomatic carriage; Community; Haemoglobin; Health district; Plasmodium; Pregnant.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Prevalence of asymptomatic carriage of malaria parasites by gravidity according to the malaria transmission season. The high transmission season in 2013 covered the months between October and November. The low transmission season in 2013–2014 covered the months between December 2013 and March–2014. The low transmission season in 2017 covered the months between April and June 2017
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Prevalence of anaemia by trimester of pregnancy according to the malaria transmission season. The anaemia in pregnancy was defined as follow: Hb < 11 g/dL in the first trimester, < 10.5 g/dL in the second trimester, and < 11 g/dL in the third trimester. The high transmission season in 2013 covered the months between October and November. The low transmission season in 2013–2014 covered the months between December 2013 and March–2014. The low transmission season in 2017 covered the months between April and June 2017
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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