Prevalence of asymptomatic malaria and associated factors among pregnant women at Boset District in East Shoa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Malaria infection during pregnancy is a significant public health problem that puts pregnant women at risk. Interruption of transmission of asymptomatic malaria among a population remained a challenge and the host serves as a reservoir for the malaria parasite; and is also recognized as a major barrier to malaria elimination. This study aimed 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 of asymptomatic malaria and associated factors 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 employed to find the associated factors. Variables in the multivariable model with a p-value < 0.05 were considered significantly associated with asymptomatic malaria. 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. Asymptomatic malaria during pregnancy was found to be significantly associated with not using an insecticide-treated bed net [(P = 0.002, AOR: 9.61; 95% CI (2.22–41.53)], lack of consultation and health education about malaria prevention during Antenatal care attendance [(P = 0.04, AOR: 4.05; 95% CI (1.02, 16.05)], and living close stagnant water [(P = 0.02, AOR: 4.43; 95% CI (1.17,16.82)]. Conclusions The current study showed that asymptomatic malaria is prevalent in pregnant women. Not using insecticide-treated bed nets, inadequate health education during antenatal care, and living close to stagnant water are significantly associated with malaria infection. Thus, using insecticide-treated bed nets, health education, and avoiding stagnant water from residential areas could play significant roles in preventing asymptomatic malaria among pregnant women in the study area.

Symptomatic and asymptomatic malaria prevalence and its determinant factors in pastoral communities of Waghemira Zone, Northeast Ethiopia: A community‐based cross‐sectional study

“…The prevalence rate of asymptomatic malaria in this study was higher than the study done in Raya Kobo district, Northeast Ethiopia (7.0%), 11 Dembia district, Northwest Ethiopia (6.7%), 38 Debre Elias district, Northwest Ethiopia (4.2%), 12 Sanja Town, Northwest Ethiopia (6.8%), 39 Boset District, Central Ethiopia (3.05%), 40 and Maygaba Town, Northwest Ethiopia (4.7%). 41 The differences might be due to inadequate environmental and vector control interventions in affected areas.…”

Asymptomatic malaria in pregnancy and associated risk factors in Majang Zone, Gambella Region, Southwest Ethiopia: A hard-to-reach malaria hotspot

“…Pregnant women with only one ANC contact were about four times (AOR: 4.28 95% CI: 2.06, 8.87) more likely to have AMiP as compared to those who had at least two ANC contacts. Studies conducted in Ethiopia (30) and Tanzania ( 27) revealed similar ndings. In fact, it is epidemiologically and immunologically conceivable that pregnant women with a higher frequency of ANC contact could get services such as advice, iron, and other healthcare services, including antimalarials, that collectively improve pregnancy health and reduce the risk of infection, including malaria (30,37).…”

Asymptomatic malaria infection and its associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia; a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…A total of ten cross-sectional studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. To estimate the pooled prevalence of asymptomatic malaria infection a total of 3277 of asymptomatic pregnant women were involved ( Balcha et al, 2023 ; Feleke et al, 2020 ; Gontie et al, 2020 ; Nega et al, 2015 ; Asmamaw et al, 2013 ; Getachew et al, 2013 ; Solomon et al, 2020 ; Subussa et al, 2021 ; Tilahun et al, 2020 ; Tilla et al, 2019 ). Four of the studies were institution-based cross-sectional studies, while six were community-based cross-sectional studies.…”

“…The minimum and maximum sample sizes were 212 and 498 in the South Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region (SNNPR) and Oromia, respectively. Of the included studies, three were from the Amhara ( Feleke et al, 2020 ; Asmamaw et al, 2013 ; Tilahun et al, 2020 ), three from the Oromia ( Balcha et al, 2023 ; Getachew et al, 2013 ; Subussa et al, 2021 ), one Benishangul gumuz ( Gontie et al, 2020 ) and three from SNNP ( Nega et al, 2015 ; Solomon et al, 2020 ; Tilla et al, 2019 ) ( Table 1 ).…”

“…In asymptomatic parasitemia, the person carries Plasmodium parasites in their bloodstream, but due to partial immunity, the parasites are incapable of inducing symptoms in the affected individual ( Laishram et al, 2012 ) The prevalence of asymptomatic malaria during pregnancy in Sub Sahara Africa is 26.6% ( Yimam et al, 2021 ). In Ethiopia the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria in the general population is 6.7% and among pregnant women it ranges from 2.83% to11.2% ( World Health Organization, 2019 ; Balcha et al, 2023 ; Feleke et al, 2020 ; Gontie et al, 2020 ; Nega et al, 2015 ).…”