Asymptomatic malaria infection impact on maternal anemia in Delta State, Nigeria

Background and Purpose: Pregnant women are vulnerable due to the pregnancy-induced suppressed immunity in malaria-endemic areas. Asymptomatic malaria in pregnancy (MiP) threatens both the mother, fetus, and neonate via chronic placental malaria which impacts maternal-neonatal exchange. Some studies reported that MiP risk factors vary across locations, however, there are few studies on MiP and maternal anemia in Nigeria. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between asymptomatic placental malaria infection and maternal anemia among parturients in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria. Method: This study was developed with a quantitative methodology that utilized primary and secondary healthcare data from 483 subjects aged 18-49 years from four healthcare facilities between May and July 2021. The Socio-Ecological Model (SEM) framework was used to explain how parturients can achieve improved pregnancy outcome via the mobilization of multi-levels supports to enhance the compliance of parturients to malaria interventions. The research question and hypothesis were tested with the binomial logistic regression test. Result: The findings showed a statistically significant association between placental malaria parasitemia by microscopy (PMPM), intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and maternal anemia in the study population. Also, the study revealed that positive PMPM, use of CAM, insecticides treated net (ITN) ownership, ITN frequent use, and antenatal care (ANC) attendance were the risk factors of maternal anemia among the study population. Conclusion: The findings of this study could inform malaria control policymaking in Asaba and Delta State on tracking and treating asymptomatic placenta malaria among underserved parturient accessing antenatal services.