Screening and Prevention of Malaria among Pregnant Women at the First Antenatal Consultation in the Rural Health Zone of Mulongo, Democratic Republic of Congo (Preprint)

Résumé fourni par la source

BACKGROUND Malaria during pregnancy, even when asymptomatic, represents a major challenge to maternal and child health. During pregnancy, malaria is widely recognized as a significant global health issue, posing substantial risks to the mother, the fetus, newborns, and the broader community OBJECTIVE This study was initiated to assess malaria prophylaxis standards among pregnant women at their first antenatal consultation (ANC), to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria, and to identify associated factors METHODS The study was conducted at the maternity ward of the Mulongo General Reference Hospital, a rural and river-lake health zone in the Democratic Republic of Congo, using data recorded in 2024. It was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study in line with the objectives. Information from 1520 pregnant women attending their first ANC was collected from registers and antenatal care records using a predesigned data collection form. Descriptive and analytical analyses were performed with SPSS version 23, calculating frequencies, means with standard deviations, odds ratios (OR), and chi-square tests. RESULTS A total of 76.6% of ANC visits were initiated late. Among the women, 86.6% underwent a malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT), with a positivity rate of 28.2%. Most participants (90.9%) received a long-lasting insecticide-treated net (LLIN), and 80.1% received their first dose of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP1). However, SP1 was administered late in 94.9% of cases. The factors associated with asymptomatic malaria included younger maternal age (OR=3.47 [2.26–5.32] before 20 years; OR=1.51 [1.06–2.14] between 20–35 years) and primigravidity (OR=2.43 [1.77–3.33]). CONCLUSIONS Asymptomatic malaria during pregnancy is common, and most women benefited from the recommended prophylaxis measures during their first ANC. However, the late initiation of ANC prevents women from timely receiving prophylactic interventions necessary for effective malaria prevention.

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