Malaria in pregnancy: Meta-analyses of prevalence and associated complications

• Published in: Epidemiology and infection Vol. 152; p. e39
• Main Authors: Das, Jai K., Lakhani, Sohail, Rahman, Abdu R., Siddiqui, Faareha, Ali Padhani, Zahra, Rashid, Zainab, Mahmud, Omar, Naqvi, Syeda Kanza, Amir Naseem, Hamna, Jehanzeb, Hamzah, Kumar, Suresh, Beg, Mohammad Asim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 13-02-2024
• Subjects: Anemia; Birth weight; Confidence intervals; Diagnostic tests; Disease prevention; Infections; Malaria; Meta-analysis; Pregnancy; Pregnancy complications; Premature birth; Regression analysis; Review; Robustness (mathematics); Sensitivity analysis; Statistical analysis; Systematic review; Vector-borne diseases; Womens health; Africa; meta-analysis; epidemiology; prevalence; malaria
• ISSN: 0950-2688; 1469-4409; 1469-4409
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268824000177

This review aims to assess the prevalence of malaria in pregnancy during antenatal visits and delivery, species-specific burden together with regional variation in the burden of disease. It also aims to estimate the proportions of adverse pregnancy outcomes in malaria-positive women. Based on the PRISMA guidelines, a thorough and systematic search was conducted in July 2023 across two electronic databases (including PubMed and CENTRAL). Forest plots were constructed for each outcome of interest highlighting the effect measure, confidence interval, sample size, and its associated weightage. All the statistical meta-analysis were conducted using R-Studio version 2022.07. Sensitivity analyses, publication bias assessment, and meta-regression analyses were also performed to ensure robustness of the review. According to the pooled estimates of 253 studies, the overall prevalence of malaria was 18.95% (95% CI: 16.95–21.11), during antenatal visits was 20.09% (95% CI: 17.43–23.06), and at delivery was 17.32% (95% CI: 14.47–20.61). The highest proportion of malarial infection was observed in Africa approximating 21.50% (95% CI: 18.52–24.81) during ANC and 20.41% (95% CI: 17.04–24.24) at the time of delivery. Our analysis also revealed that the odds of having anaemia were 2.40 times (95% CI: 1.87–3.06), having low birthweight were 1.99 times (95% CI: 1.60–2.48), having preterm birth were 1.65 times (95% CI: 1.29–2.10), and having stillbirths were 1.40 times (95% CI: 1.15–1.71) in pregnant women with malaria.