| dc.description.abstract | Background: In Kenya, the prevalence of asymptomatic Plasmodium infections (API)
among pregnant women ranges from 9% to 18%. This study aimed to evaluate the
prevalence and risk factors associated with API and anemia in pregnant women who
were receiving their first prenatal care.
Methods: This cross-sectional survey enrolled pregnant women who attended prenatal
care at Msambweni County Referral Hospital (MCRH) from September 2018 to
February 2019. Various variables, including maternal age, obstetric history, bed net
ownership and usage, soil consumption, hemoglobin levels, and malaria status, were
collected. Data analysis was performed using Epi Info 7. Descriptive analysis was
conducted to compare the cases of asymptomatic Plasmodium infections (API) and
anemia with those who did not have either condition. Chi-square test was used to
assess associations, calculate prevalence odds ratios (POR), and determine their 95%
confidence intervals (CI) to identify factors associated with API and anemia
Results: A total of 308 pregnant women participated in this study, with a mean age of
26.6 years and a standard deviation (SD) of 5.8 for gestational age. Among the
participants, 62.7% had anemia and 12.9% had asymptomatic Plasmodium infections
(API). Younger age was independently associated with having API compared to those
aged 20 years and older (chi-square = 12.03, P-value = 0.02, adjusted prevalence odds
ratio [aPOR] = 4.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.71-12.01). Anemia in pregnancy
(AiP) was independently associated with a gestational age of 16 weeks (chi-square =
14.9, P-value = 0.002), with an aPOR of 3.3 (95% CI: 1.72-6.41), and with individuals
reporting soil ingestion (chi-square = 9.30, P-value = 0.02, aPOR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.21-
3.41). Those with API were three times more likely to have anemia compared to those
without API (aPOR = 3.5, 95% CI: 1.21-8.60, chi-square = 8.10, P-value = 0.001).
Conclusion: Anemia in pregnancy (AiP) was found to be associated with women who
reported consuming soil, while asymptomatic Plasmodium infections (API) were linked
to younger women with a gestational age greater than 16 weeks. These are common
conditions that often affect pregnant women. It is recommended to conduct regular
early malaria screening and implement prophylactic measures for women with AiP | en_US |
