Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Arsi University, Assella, Ethiopia.
School of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
PLoS One. 2021 Mar 25;16(3):e0248074. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248074. eCollection 2021.
Asymptomatic Plasmodium infection (API) that occurs during pregnancy increases the risk of stillbirths, abortion, premature delivery, and low birth weight. API also hinders the control and prevention of malaria as infected hosts serve as silent reservoirs for transmission of Plasmodium species in the community.
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of API and associated factors among pregnant women. This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Merti district, Oromia, Ethiopia among 364 pregnant women from March to September 2018.
Sociodemographic and obstetrics features were collected using a structured questionnaire. About 2ml of blood was collected from participants to detect Plasmodium species, gametocyte carriage rate, parasite density, and anemia.
The prevalence of API among pregnant women was 3.6%. The proportion of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax was 6(46.2%) and 7(53.8%) respectively. Out of 13 Plasmodium species identified, Gametocyte carriage rate was 4(30.7%). The geometric mean density of the asexual stage of the parasites was 994.7(interquartile [IQR], 320 to 2200) parasites/ul. The geometric mean gametocyte density was 303.3 (interquartile range [IQR], 160 to 600). The proportion of anemia among Plasmodium-infected participants was 12(92.3%). Previous infection by Plasmodium species (AOR = 5.42; 95% CI: 1.19-29.03, p = 0.047), lack of insecticide-treated bed net use (AOR = 6.52; 95% CI: 1.17-36.44, p = 0.032), and living close to stagnant water (AOR = 4.18; 95% CI (1.12-17.36, p = 0.049) were significantly associated with API. Anemia was significantly higher among Plasmodium-infected than non-infected pregnant women (x2 = 27.62, p <0.001).
In the current study, a relatively high prevalence of API was detected among pregnant women. Identifying API in the community is important to prevent the unwanted outcomes of Plasmodium infection and its transmission.
孕妇无症状疟原虫感染（API）会增加死产、流产、早产和低出生体重的风险。API 还会阻碍疟疾的控制和预防，因为受感染的宿主是社区中传播疟原虫物种的无声储存库。
本研究旨在确定孕妇中 API 的流行率及其相关因素。这项在埃塞俄比亚奥罗米亚的 Merti 区进行的基于社区的横断面研究，于 2018 年 3 月至 9 月期间纳入了 364 名孕妇。
使用结构化问卷收集社会人口学和产科特征。从参与者中采集约 2ml 的血液，以检测疟原虫种类、配子体携带率、寄生虫密度和贫血。
孕妇中 API 的流行率为 3.6%。恶性疟原虫和间日疟原虫的比例分别为 6（46.2%）和 7（53.8%）。在所鉴定的 13 种疟原虫中，配子体携带率为 4（30.7%）。寄生虫无性阶段的几何平均密度为 994.7（四分位距 [IQR]，320 至 2200）个/μl。配子体的几何平均密度为 303.3（IQR，160 至 600）个/μl。感染疟原虫的参与者中贫血的比例为 12（92.3%）。先前感染疟原虫物种（AOR = 5.42；95%CI：1.19-29.03，p = 0.047）、缺乏经杀虫剂处理的蚊帐使用（AOR = 6.52；95%CI：1.17-36.44，p = 0.032）和居住在靠近死水的地方（AOR = 4.18；95%CI（1.12-17.36，p = 0.049）与 API 显著相关。感染疟原虫的孕妇贫血发生率明显高于未感染孕妇（x2 = 27.62，p <0.001）。
在本研究中，孕妇中 API 的流行率相对较高。在社区中发现 API 对于预防疟原虫感染及其传播的不良后果非常重要。
