Study of Pregnancy Outcome in Malaria among Rural Population of Western Maharashtra, India

Women during pregnancy are more prone to severe attacks of malaria, which may result in to abortion, premature labour or still birth. Malaria alters the course of pregnancy by affecting the health of the mother and by interrupting the pregnancy. The most important influence of the disease on maternal health in pregnancy is indirect, by causing anemia. This prospective observational study was carried out in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Rural Medical College, Loni, India over a period of January to December 2011. A total of 30 cases, clinically diagnosed and confirmed by presence of malarial parasites in the peripheral blood smear, were enrolled in the study. Results were analyzed by using percentages and proportions. Falciparum malaria was the commonest type responsible for malarial fever. Sixty five percent cases were primigravidas and were in 1st and 2nd trimester of pregnancy. Anemia and fever with chills were most predominant symptoms seen in 100% patients followed by headache (73.0%) and body ache (60.0%), while 46.0% patients presented with spleenomegaly and 23.0% patients with jaundice. There were four cases of cerebral malaria, of which, three cases died after delivery. Malarial fever is a preventable condition in pregnancy. If the patients are not treated in time may lead to anemia, abortion, preterm labour, IUGR and stillbirth. Cerebral malaria is an important indirect cause of maternal mortality.