Introduction: Malaria in
pregnancy induces significant risks for the mother and the foetus. The
objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria and the risk
factors among pregnant women in the Health District of Mwene Ditu in DR Congo. Methods: A cross-sectional
descriptive study based on household survey was carried out in June 2016 in the
Health District of Mwene Ditu. The calculated sample size was 461 pregnant
women selected through a stratified random sampling. A structured interview
using a pre-established questionnaire was administered to and peripheral blood
samples were collected for laboratory tests in all pregnant women presenting
malaria symptoms or fever history. The following statistics were used: Chi
square test and Odds ratio with a confidence interval at 95%. Results: The prevalence of malaria in
pregnant women was 14.97%. The following parameters proved to be risk
factors for malaria illness in pregnant women in Mwene Ditu: low socio-economic
level of the couple [AOR = 6.48 (1.51; 27.78)], agrarian activities [AOR = 5,56 (2.47; 12.50)], facts of not sleeping under ITBN each night
[AOR = 17.39 (8.38; 36.10)] as well as of not getting SP for intermittent
preventive treatment (IPT) in pregnancy [AOR = 4.08 (1.32; 12.59)] and financially supporting all interventions
for fighting against malaria [AOR = 3.43 (1.42; 8.29)]. Conclusion: Malaria is frequent among the pregnant women of Mwene Ditu. The ANC frequentation and an appropriate organization prove to be paramount interest.
Cite this paper
Jean-Claude, M. K. , Bienfait, M. M. , Simon, I. K. and Jean-Baptiste, K. S. Z. (2018). Epidemiological Aspects of Malaria in Pregnant Women: Prevalence and Risk Factors in Mwene Ditu, DR Congo. Open Access Library Journal, 5, e4676. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1104676.
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