Prevalence and Associated Factors of Asymptomatic Malaria among Pregnant Women at Boset District in East Shoa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia, 2022

Abstract

Background: Malaria is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium infecting red blood cells. Malaria infection during pregnancy is a significant public health problem that puts pregnant women at risk. Due to the asymptomatic nature of malaria patients, diagnosis has been difficult, definitions have been inconsistent, and there has been a general lack of urgency to explore this illness outcome. Because asymptomatic malaria represents a challenge in interrupting transmission in a population and the asymptomatic host serves as a reservoir for the malaria parasite, it is now recognized as a major barrier to malaria elimination. This study aims to assess the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria and associated factors among pregnant women in the Boset District, East Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence and associated factors of asymptomatic malaria in pregnant women from February to March 2022. Using multistage sample techniques, 328 asymptomatic pregnant women were enrolled. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. A rapid test and Giemsa-stained blood smear microscopy were used to diagnose Plasmodium infections. Epi info version 7 was used to code, enter, and clean data before being uploaded to SPSS version 25.0 for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression were utilized to find the associated factors. Results: Of the total 328 pregnant women who participated in this study, 9(2.74%) and 10(3.05%) were confirmed to be infected with Plasmodium species by microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests, respectively. Malaria during pregnancy was found to be significantly associated with not using an insecticide-treated bed net [AOR: 9.66; 95 % CI: (2.03-45.98), lack of consultation and health education about malaria prevention during Antenatal care attendance [AOR: 4.19; 95 % CI: (1.07, 16.44), and living close stagnant water [AOR: 7.58; 95% CI: (1.06, 18.66). Conclusions: The current study showed asymptomatic malaria is prevalent in pregnant women. Insecticide-treated bed nets, Health education during Antenatal care, and living close to stagnant water had a significant association with malaria. This indicates pregnant women have to be screened for asymptomatic malaria and educated on malaria preventive methods during Antenatal care services.