Factors Influencing Prevalence of Malaria Among Mothers Attending Antenatal Care at Kiira Health Centre III Wakiso district.

Abstract

Malaria is still a major problem in the tropics causing 300-500 episodes of acute illness per year especially among pregnant women. The study was carried out to determine the factors influencing the prevalence of malaria among mothers attending antenatal care at Kira Health Centre III, Wakiso District. We obtained a prevalence of 16.15%, (95% CI=12.3 – 20.63) of malaria among pregnant mothers. Majority had their infections in the third trimester (51.92%). Mothers aged 35 to 45 years of age, those cohabiting and those who were never educated were more prone to acquiring Malaria age were more at risk of acquiring malaria compared to those of lower age (OR=2.44, 95% CI=1.30-7.79, p. Value=0.01; (OR=2.06, 95% CI=1.15-8.15, p. Value=0.03 and OR=0.33, 95% CI=0.01-0.87, p. Value=0.019, respectively). Few [88/322 (27.23%)] mothers were using mosquito net but many [218/322 (67.7%)] were using IPT. We found that, using mosquito nets in pregnancy was protective (OR=4.17, 95% CI=1.58-13.88, p. Value=0.0017 but IPT use in pregnancy had no effect, (OR=0.59, 95% CI=0.31-1.15, p. Value=0.092). Malaria was a more likely cause of anemia and acute pulmonary oedema among pregnant mothers (OR=10.79, 95% CI=6.95-32.49, p. Value=<0.001 and OR=3.2195%CI=1.6-6.34, p. Value=<0.001 respectively). But not DIC (OR=0.64, 95% CI=0.069-2.84, p. Value=0.55. Our results indicated that malaria is still common in pregnant women attending antenatal care. Pulmonary oedema and anemia were the major complications. Older mothers, those in the third trimester, low educated and those cohabiting were at a higher risk of acquiring malaria and therefore extra care should be accorded to them. The use of non-treated mosquito bed-nets may be beneficial in this area for all. Mothers should be encouraged to start antenatal as early as first trimester, educated about the importance and proper use of mosquito bed-nets. Also Treating Mosquito bed-nets should be substituted with indoor spraying to improve adherence to the use Mosquito bed-nets