Abstract

Objective: To determine the epidemiology of malaria [especially Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax)] among pregnant women in Eastern Sudan. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in the antenatal care of New Halfa hospital, Eastern Sudan to investigate the prevalence, manifestations and determinants of malaria (especially P. vivax) among pregnant women. Results: Out of 2 378 pregnant women, there were 48 (2.0%) and 36 (1.5%) Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) and P. vivax infection, respectively. There was no significant difference in the age, parity, gestational age between women with malaria and healthy controls. The mean ± SD of the temperature was significantly higher in patients with P. vivax than in patient with P. falciparum malaria [(38.6 ± 0.7) °C vs. (38.1 ± 0.6) °C, P = 0.001]. Patients with P. vivax malaria had slightly (not reach statistical significance) lower hemoglobin level compared with P. falciparum malaria and healthy controls. The geometric parasite count showed no significant difference between patients with P. vivax and P. falciparum malaria infections (12 189.9 vs. 9 755.1 trophozoite/µL, P = 0.356). Conclusions: P. vivax malaria is an existing health problem in Eastern Sudan. Further research is also needed.

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