TOPIC
infected female mosquito as it bites the human host. It is one of the most common causes
of infectious disease related deaths in the World with Africa bearing the largest proportion
of the world’s malaria burden because the region hosts the anopheles mosquito which is
the most efficient malaria vectors, and also due to lack of the basic infrastructure and
resources necessary for efficient and sustainable control of the malaria disease. Despite the
wide control strategies, occurrence of malaria is on the increase with an estimated
incidence rate of 37% globally and 42% in Africa. In Uganda, malaria is the leading cause of
morbidity and mortality and is responsible for 40% of all outpatient visits, 25% of all
hospital admission and 14%of all hospital deaths. The study objective was to determine the
prevalence of malaria and associated control methods among pregnant women attending
focused antenatal care at Iganga Main Hospital, Iganga District. A descriptive cross
sectional study was conducted in June 2017 at Antenatal Care Clinic, Iganga Main Hospital,
and Iganga District, Uganda. Quantitative data was collected by means of questionnaires
covering a study population of 126 pregnant mothers where a systematic random sampling
method was used. 52/126 (41.3%) were found positive to malaria parasites and majority of
pregnant women were aged 20-30 years, these had highest infection rate of 44.2%
(38/86),with primigravidas having the highest infection rate of 54.8%. It was also observed
that according to gestational age of pregnancy, women of first trimester had the highest
prevalence of 68.3% (28/41). The study showed that the most common barrier method used
to prevent malaria was treated mosquito nets with 76/126 (60.3%). In general, pregnant
mothers had fair knowledge about malaria control methods. Despite focused antenatal care
and the awareness on malaria control methods, a malaria prevalence of 41.3% was scored.
Therefore interventions aimed at social and behaviour change are necessary to address the
gaps highlighted by the study.
Keywords: Malaria, mosquito, Plasmodium, mosquito nets
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PUBLISHED
2023-01-11
HOW TO CITE
Mugoya, Mwesigwa Phillip (2023).Prevalence and control of Malaria in Pregnant Antenatal Mothers at Main
Hospital, Iganga District, Eastern Uganda. IDOSR JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ,9(1):66-74. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSR/2023/01.1.1204