Malaria and Pregnancy: A Global Health Perspective

Malaria, a parasitic infection transmitted by mosquitoes, is one of the most devastating infectious diseases, killing more than 1 million people annually. Pregnant women, children, and immunocompromised individuals have the highest morbidity and mortality, and Africa bears the heaviest burden. The World Health Organization defines malaria as a disease of poverty caused by poverty. Pregnant women infected with malaria usually have more severe symptoms and outcomes, with higher rates of miscarriage, intrauterine demise, premature delivery, low-birth-weight neonates, and neonatal death. They are also at a higher risk for severe anemia and maternal death. Malaria can be prevented with appropriate drugs, bed nets treated with insecticide, and effective educational outreach programs.Key words: Plasmodium falciparum, Malaria, pregnancy, Malaria, immunocompromised host, Malaria, neonatesMalaria is the second most common cause of infectious disease-related death in the world, after tuberculosis. It is estimated to affect between 350 to 500 million people annually and accounts for 1 to 3 million deaths per year.^1,2 Sub-Saharan Africa has the largest burden of malarial disease, with over 90% of the world’s malaria-related deaths occurring in this region. Twenty-five million pregnant women are currently at risk for malaria, and, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), malaria accounts for over 10,000 maternal and 200,000 neonatal deaths per year.³These figures may underestimate the impact malaria has in maternal morbidity and mortality. A recent study from Mozambique that assigned cause of maternal death via autopsy examination found that up to 10% of maternal deaths were directly attributed to malarial infection and 13% were secondary to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS, which can be exacerbated by coexisting malarial infection.⁴ This suggests that in parts of the world where malaria is endemic, it may directly contribute to almost 25% of all maternal deaths.Malaria in pregnancy also contributes to significant perinatal morbidity and mortality. Infection is known to cause higher rates of miscarriage, intrauterine demise, premature delivery, low-birth-weight neonates, and neonatal death. As funding increases to combat both malaria and maternal mortality, understanding how malaria specifically affects pregnant women is crucial in our efforts to improve maternal and perinatal health and curb the spread of this preventable infectious disease.