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Unger HW, Acharya S, Arnold L, Wu C, van Eijk AM, Gore-Langton GR, Ter Kuile FO, Lufele E, Chico RM, Price RN, Moore BR, Thriemer K, Rogerson SJ. The effect and control of malaria in pregnancy and lactating women in the Asia-Pacific region. Lancet Glob Health 2023; 11:e1805-e1818. [PMID: 37858590 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(23)00415-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Half of all pregnancies at risk of malaria worldwide occur in the Asia-Pacific region, where Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax co-exist. Despite substantial reductions in transmission, malaria remains an important cause of adverse health outcomes for mothers and offspring, including pre-eclampsia. Malaria transmission is heterogeneous, and infections are commonly subpatent and asymptomatic. High-grade antimalarial resistance poses a formidable challenge to malaria control in pregnancy in the region. Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy reduces infection risk in meso-endemic New Guinea, whereas screen-and-treat strategies will require more sensitive point-of-care tests to control malaria in pregnancy. In the first trimester, artemether-lumefantrine is approved, and safety data are accumulating for other artemisinin-based combinations. Safety of novel antimalarials to treat artemisinin-resistant P falciparum during pregnancy, and of 8-aminoquinolines during lactation, needs to be established. A more systematic approach to the prevention of malaria in pregnancy in the Asia-Pacific is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holger W Unger
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Darwin Hospital, Tiwi, NT, Australia; Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Sanjaya Acharya
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Lachlan Arnold
- Royal Melbourne Hospital Clinical School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Connie Wu
- Royal Melbourne Hospital Clinical School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Anna Maria van Eijk
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Georgia R Gore-Langton
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Feiko O Ter Kuile
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Elvin Lufele
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia; Vector-Borne Diseases Unit, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - R Matthew Chico
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Ric N Price
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia; Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Brioni R Moore
- Curtin Medical School, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia; Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia; Telethon Kids Institute, Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Kamala Thriemer
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Stephen J Rogerson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne, The Doherty Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, The Doherty Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Garg S, Dewangan M, Barman O. Malaria prevalence in symptomatic and asymptomatic pregnant women in a high malaria-burden state in India. Trop Med Health 2020; 48:71. [PMID: 32831578 PMCID: PMC7436977 DOI: 10.1186/s41182-020-00259-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Malaria in pregnancy (‘MiP’) poses risks to mother, foetus and newborn. Studies from Africa and Asia have reported high prevalence of ‘MiP’ and recommended further research to address ‘MiP’. India has a significant burden of ‘MiP’ but most of the studies are a decade old. Hardly any studies exist in India that report on asymptomatic malaria in pregnant women. The current Indian policies for malaria control are silent on ‘MiP’. A campaign was carried out by community health workers (CHWs) in 2019 to screen pregnant women across rural Chhattisgarh. Methods This is a cross-sectional study. Malaria was tested in pregnant women by CHWs using bivalent rapid tests. Multi-stage sampling was used to cover 21,572 pregnant women screened across different geographical areas of rural Chhattisgarh. Cross-tabulation and multivariate regression were used to find out the relationship of ‘MiP’ with different symptoms and geographical areas. GIS maps were used to compare malaria in pregnant women against overall febrile population. Results In rural Chhattisgarh, malaria was present in 0.81% of the pregnant women at the time of testing. ‘MiP’ prevalence varied across geographies, reaching 4.48% in the geographical division with highest burden. Febrile pregnant women had three times greater malaria-positivity than overall febrile population and both showed a similar geographical pattern. Discussion Prevalence of ‘MiP’ was found to be less than earlier studies in the state. Though overall malaria in India has shown some decline, a policy response is needed for ‘MiP’ in high-burden areas. Fever, diarrhoea and jaundice remain relevant symptoms in ‘MiP’, but around one fourth of malaria-positive pregnant-women were afebrile, suggesting the need for strategies to address it. Conclusion The current study based on a large sample provides fresh evidence on ‘MiP’ in India. It used CHWs as skilled providers for large-scale screening for malaria. In high-burden areas, intermittent screening and treatment (IST) of all pregnant women can be a useful strategy in order to address ‘MiP’. Pregnant women can be considered as a pertinent sentinel population for malaria. The global and national policies need to evolve concrete strategies for addressing malaria in pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir Garg
- State Health Resource Centre, Raipur, Chhattisgarh India
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Kim C, Mansoor GF, Paya PM, Ludin MH, Ahrar MJ, Mashal MO, Todd CS. Review of policies, data, and interventions to improve maternal nutrition in Afghanistan. MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION 2020; 16:e13003. [PMID: 32293806 PMCID: PMC7507462 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Malnutrition contributes to direct and indirect causes of maternal mortality, which is particularly high in Afghanistan. Women's nutritional status before, during, and after pregnancy affects their own well‐being and mortality risk and their children's health outcomes. Though maternal nutrition interventions have documented positive impact on select child health outcomes, there are limited data regarding the effects of maternal nutrition interventions on maternal health outcomes globally. This scoping review maps policies, data, and interventions aiming to address poor maternal nutrition outcomes in Afghanistan. We used broad search categories and approaches including database and website searches, hand searches of reference lists from relevant articles, policy and programme document requests, and key informant interviews. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed by type of source document, such as studies with measures related to maternal nutrition, relevant policies and strategies, and programmatic research or evaluation by a third party with explicit interventions targeting maternal nutrition. We abstracted documents systematically, summarized content, and synthesized data. We included 20 policies and strategies, 29 data reports, and nine intervention evaluations. The availability of maternal nutrition intervention data and the inclusion of nutrition indicators, such as minimum dietary diversity, have increased substantially since 2013, yet few nutrition evaluations and population surveys include maternal outcomes as primary or even secondary outcomes. There is little evidence on the effectiveness of interventions that target maternal nutrition in Afghanistan. Policies and strategies more recently have shifted towards multisectoral efforts and specifically target nutrition needs of adolescent girls and women of reproductive age. This scoping review presents evidence from more than 10 years of efforts to improve the maternal nutrition status of Afghan women. We recommend a combination of investments in measuring maternal nutrition indicators and improving maternal nutrition knowledge and behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Kim
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ghulam Farooq Mansoor
- FHI 360/Integrated Hygiene, Sanitation, and Nutrition (IHSAN) project, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - Pir Mohammad Paya
- FHI 360/Integrated Hygiene, Sanitation, and Nutrition (IHSAN) project, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - Mohammad Homayoun Ludin
- Public Nutrition Directorate, Ministry of Public Health, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - Mohammad Javed Ahrar
- Rural Water Supply and Irrigation Programme (RuWATSIP) Department, Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD), Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - Mohammad Omar Mashal
- FHI 360/Integrated Hygiene, Sanitation, and Nutrition (IHSAN) project, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - Catherine S Todd
- Division of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, FHI 360, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Iyanda AE, Osayomi T, Boakye KA, Lu Y. Regional variation and demographic factors associated with knowledge of malaria risk and prevention strategies among pregnant women in Nigeria. Women Health 2019; 60:456-472. [PMID: 31327307 DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2019.1643818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Pregnant women and children are the most vulnerable populations for malaria infection. Yet, knowledge of risk, and preventive measures are poor among this population. Using the 2015 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey, we applied logit link function to estimate the associations of wealth status, educational attainment, and region of residence with malaria risk knowledge and prevention strategies (using a treated mosquito net and malaria drugs) among 739 Nigerian pregnant women aged 15-49 years. Urban women who had obtained a secondary school education (Adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.12; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-4) or higher (aOR = 8.31; 95% CI 3.2-22) had more knowledge of malaria risk. Urban women in the South-West (aOR = 5.02; [CI] 2.02-12.50) and South-East (aOR = 2.68; 95% CI 1.19-6.06) were more likely to use treated mosquito nets during pregnancy. Women in the urban South-West (aOR = 4.04; 95% CI 1.5-11) were more likely to use malaria drugs during pregnancy than those in the North-Central. A wide regional disparity in the knowledge of malaria risks and use of preventive measures exists. Thus, promoting equal access to malaria preventive measures as well as improving knowledge about malaria transmission by mosquitoes should be considered as essential components of ongoing malaria control and elimination efforts in Nigeria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayodeji E Iyanda
- Department of Geography, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA
| | | | - Kwadwo A Boakye
- School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Yongmei Lu
- Department of Geography, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA
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Omer SA, Idress HE, Adam I, Abdelrahim M, Noureldein AN, Abdelrazig AM, Elhassan MO, Sulaiman SM. Placental malaria and its effect on pregnancy outcomes in Sudanese women from Blue Nile State. Malar J 2017; 16:374. [PMID: 28915896 PMCID: PMC5603062 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-2028-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria infection during pregnancy can result in placental malaria and is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes particularly among primigravidae. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors for placental malaria and its effect on pregnancy outcomes in Blue Nile state, Sudan. METHODS A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted consecutively during January 2012-December 2015 in three main hospitals in Blue Nile State, Sudan. At delivery, peripheral and placental blood samples were collected from consenting women. Finger prick blood was used for preparation of peripheral smears and for haemoglobin measurement. Smears were stained with Giemsa and examined microscopically for malaria parasites. Pregnancy outcomes in association to placental malaria were investigated. RESULTS A total of 1149 mothers and their newborns were recruited. The mean (SD) of the age was 23.3 (5.2) years. Detection of malaria parasites was confirmed in 37.8% of the peripheral blood films and 59.3% of the placental films with Plasmodium falciparum as the only species detected. In multivariate analysis, younger age ≤23.2 years old (AOR = 3.2, 95% CI 1.9-5.5; P < 0.001), primiparae (AOR = 3.9, CI 2.1-7.6; P < 0.001), secundiparae (AOR = 2.8, 95% CI 1.5-5.1; P < 0.001, no antenatal care (ANC) visits (AOR = 11.9, 95% CI 7.8-18.1; P < 0.001) and not using bed nets (AOR = 3.5, 95% CI 1.7-6.8; P < 0.001) were risk factors for placental malaria. Education and residence were not associated with placental malaria infection. Placental malaria was significantly associated with maternal anaemia (AOR = 41.6, 95% CI 23.3-74.4; P < 0.001) and low birth weight (LBW) (AOR = 25.2, 95% CI 15.1-41.3; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION During the study, there was a high prevalence of placental malaria in Blue Nile State-Sudan, as the enhanced control activities were not practiced, leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as maternal anaemia and LBW.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samia A Omer
- Department of Immunology and Biotechnology, Tropical Medicine Research Institute, National Centre for Research, Khartoum, Sudan.
| | - Hagir E Idress
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Middlesex University, London, UK
| | - Ishag Adam
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Mutasim Abdelrahim
- Ed-Damazin Hospital, Blue Nile State Ministry of Health, Ed-Damazin, Sudan
| | | | | | - Mohammed O Elhassan
- Khartoum Teaching Eye Hospital, Khartoum State Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan
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Sesay SSS, Giorgi E, Diggle PJ, Schellenberg D, Lalloo DG, Terlouw DJ. Surveillance in easy to access population subgroups as a tool for evaluating malaria control progress: A systematic review. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183330. [PMID: 28813522 PMCID: PMC5558981 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The need for surveillance systems generating targeted, data-driven, responsive control efforts to accelerate and sustain malaria transmission reduction has been emphasized by programme managers, policy makers and scientists. Surveillance using easy-to-access population subgroups (EAGs) may result in considerable cost saving compared to household surveys as the identification and selection of individuals to be surveyed is simplified, fewer personnel are needed, and logistics are simpler. We reviewed available literature on the validation of estimates of key indicators of malaria control progress derived from EAGs, and describe the options to deal with the context specific bias that may occur. Methods A literature search was conducted of all documents reporting validation of estimates of malaria control indicators from EAG surveys before the 31st of December 2016. Additional records were identified through cross-reference from selected records, other applicable policy documents and grey literature. After removal of duplicates, 13, 180 abstracts were evaluated and 2,653 eligible abstracts were identified mentioning surveillance in EAGs, of which 29 full text articles were selected for detailed review. The nine articles selected for systematic review compared estimates from health facility and school surveys with those of a contemporaneous sample of the same population in the same geographic area. Results Review of the available literature on EAGs suitable for surveillance of malaria control progress revealed that little effort has been made to explore the potential approach and settings for use of EAGs; and that there was wide variation in the precision of estimates of control progress between and within studies, particularly for estimates of control intervention coverage. Only one of the studies evaluated the geospatial representativeness of EAG samples, or carried out geospatial analyses to assess or control for lack of geospatial representativeness. Two studies attempted to measure the degree of bias or improve the precision of estimates by controlling for bias in a multivariate analysis; and this was only successful in one study. The observed variability in accuracy of estimates is likely to be caused by selection and/or information bias due to the inherent nature of EAGs. The reviewed studies provided insight into the design and analytical approaches that could be used to limit bias. Conclusion The utility EAGs for routine surveillance of progress in malaria control at the district or sub-district programmatic level will be driven by several factors including whether serial point estimates to measure transmission reduction or more precise geospatial distribution to track ‘hot-spots’ is required, the acceptable degree of precision, the target population, and the resources available for surveillance. The opportunities offered by novel geostatistical analyses and hybrid sampling frames to overcome bias justify a renewed exploration of use of EAGs for malaria monitoring and evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanie S. S. Sesay
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Emanuele Giorgi
- Medical School, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Peter J. Diggle
- Medical School, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | | | - David G. Lalloo
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Dianne J. Terlouw
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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