Publications

Malaria, transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes and caused by plasmodium, manifestsin symptoms like fever, chills, vomiting, and anemia, posing heightened risks to pregnantwomen and young children. This study investigated malaria prevalence and contributingfactors among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at Jinja Regional Referral Hospitalfrom January to June 2019, employing a retrospective cross-sectional approach utilizingexisting records. Throughout the study period, the prevalence of malaria infection remainedconsistently low at 20%. Socioeconomic status emerged as a significant factor affectingmalaria treatment, with lower economic standing correlating with higher incidence. While80% of participants exhibited knowledge about malaria-related complications and preventivemeasures such as using insecticide-treated mosquito nets and eliminating stagnant water,20% lacked this crucial awareness. Notably, a disparity was observed in malaria casesbetween well-educated and less educated attendees at the health unit, with fewer instancesamong the more educated individuals. Maternal complications primarily centered aroundanemia, while occurrences of low birth weight and stillbirth were relatively uncommon,attributed to prompt diagnosis and treatment. The study highlighted fluctuating malariaprevalence, indicating the need for extensive awareness campaigns, particularly concerningintermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy (IPT1 and IPT2). Collaborative effortsinvolving the community, government, hospitals, and even spouses are crucial todisseminate crucial information. Encouraging the consistent use of insecticide-treatedmosquito nets during pregnancy should be emphasized, although this aspect wasn'tspecifically addressed in the study.Keywords: Malaria infection, Maternal mortality, Pregnant women, Antenatal care.