Author(s)

Noël Labama Otuli¹, Jean-Didier Bosenge Nguma^1*, Maindo A. Mike-Antoine¹, Antoine Modia O’yandjo¹, Gedeon Katenga Bosunga¹, Joris Losimba Likwela², Jean-Pascal Manga Okenge¹

¹Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
²Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Introduction: Gestational malaria is a major public health problem because it is a threat to pregnant women and their children. As Kisangani is a stable malaria transmission area and there is a paucity of data on the status of gestational malaria in our settings, we have found it appropriate to determine the prevalence of gestational malaria and its determinants in Kisangani City. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study in Kisangani from January 1 to September 30, 2017. Our population study consisted of 1248 parturients recruited at delivery. We made the thick drop in peripheral blood from parturients at the admission and at the level of placental impressions after delivery. Results: The average age of the respondents was 25.3971 ± 6.2452 years; the overall prevalence of gestational malaria was 27.56% including 12.66% peripheral parasitaemia, 12.34% placental parasitaemia and 2.56% parasitaemia level and placental and peripheral blood impressions. Youngest age ≤ 18 years [OR (95% CI) = 2.44 (1.75 - 3.41), p < 0.001], primiparity [OR (95% CI) = 2.94 (2.00 - 4.32), p < 0.001] and positive HIV serology [OR (95% CI) = 3.01 (1.23 - 7.43), p = 0.008] increased the risk of gestational malaria; the use of mosquito net impregnated with insecticide [OR (95% CI) = 0.29 (0.14 - 0.61), p < 0.001] reduced this risk. Conclusion: The prevalence of gestational malaria is 27.56% in Kisangani. The youngest age ≤ 18 years, the primiparity and positive HIV serology of pregnant women were the most associated risk factors.

Gestational Malaria, Thick Drop, Placental Imprint, Parasitaemia, Kisangani

Otuli, N. , Nguma, J. , Mike-Antoine, M. , O’yandjo, A. , Bosunga, G. , Likwela, J. and Okenge, J. (2018) Prevalence of Gestational Malaria in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo. Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 8, 854-866. doi: 10.4236/ojog.2018.810089.