Congenital Malaria and Pregnancy Monitoring Parameters in Health Facilities in Guinea

Malaria is much more common in pregnant women, especially during the third trimester of pregnancy, causing congenital infestation. Acute and severe complications are noted, including malignant malaria access and maternal and fetal mortality. Method: This was a three-month descriptive and analytical multicenter study, running from 1st January to 31st March 2015, conducted in 16 maternity hospitals at different levels of the health system pyramid. Results: Out of a total of 1772 mothers recruited for this study, 276 cases were tested positive (umbilical cordon and newborn’s heel). Among them, we reported 130 cases tested positive at newborn’s heel with congenital infestation confirmed by sampling on day 0, with a frequency of 7.3%. The average age of the mothers was 26 ± 14 years. With a predominance in the 20 - 35 age group (4.7%). Among mothers who were not exposed to preventive intermittent sulfadoxine pyrimethamine (IPT/SP) in malaria prevention, 6.1% of newborns tested positive. Of these, mothers who had less than 4 prenatal visits during pregnancy had a congenital malaria rate of 7.3%. Conclusion: Congenital malaria infestation exists in newborns despite adequate measures used in pregnant women (SP, antimalarial drugs). In Guinea, It is often found in newborns of mothers who suffer from malaria during pregnancy and whose prenatal cares are not regular.