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Mar 8, 2013Article Details
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Main Article Content
Malaria control aimed at the entire population in KwaZulu-Natal negates the need for policies to prevent malaria in pregnancy
Abstract
Objective. To determine the burden of malaria in pregnancy in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province, South Africa.
Methods. Pregnant women were enrolled at their first antenatal care visit to three health facilities in Umkhanyakude health district in northern KZN during May 2004 - September 2005 and followed up until delivery. Data collection included demographic details, current and previous malaria infection during pregnancy, haemoglobin concentrations and birth outcomes.
Results. Of the 1 406 study participants, more than a quarter were younger than 20 years of age, and more than 90% were unemployed and
unmarried. Although 33.2% of the women were anaemic, this was not related to malaria. The prevalence and incidence of malaria were very
low, and low birth weight was only weakly associated with malaria (1/10).
Conclusion. The low burden of malaria in these pregnant women suggests that they have benefited from malaria control strategies in the study area. The implication is that additional measures specific for malaria prevention in pregnancy are not required. However, ongoing monitoring is needed to ensure that malaria prevalence remains low.
