Pregnancy-associated malaria

Pregnancy-associated malaria (PAM) or placental malaria is a presentation of the common illness that is particularly life threatening to both mother and developing fetus. PAM is caused primarily by infection with Plasmodium falciparum, the most dangerous of the four species of malaria-causing parasites that infect humans. During her first pregnancy,  a woman faces a much higher risk of contracting malaria and of associated complications.

Malaria infection during pregnancy is a significant public health problem with substantial risks for the pregnant woman, her fetus, and the newborn child. Malaria-associated maternal illness and low birth weight is mostly the result of Plasmodium falciparum infection and occurs predominantly in Africa. The symptoms and complications of malaria in pregnancy vary according to malaria transmission intensity in the given geographical area, and the individual’s level of acquired immunity.

WHO recommends the following package of interventions for the prevention and treatment of malaria during pregnancy:

• use of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs);
• in areas of stable malaria transmission of sub-Saharan Africa, intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP);
• prompt diagnosis and effective treatment of malaria infections.

IPTp reduces maternal malaria episodes, maternal anaemia, placental parasitaemia, low birth weight, and neonatal mortality. Furthermore, all pregnant women should receive iron and folic acid supplementation as a part of routine antenatal care.