Malaria during Pregnancy: Epidemiology, Current Prevention Strategies, and Future Directions1

Malaria during pregnancy is a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa and is associated with maternal anemia, low birth weight, and premature delivery. Efficacious prevention measures exist, namely, insecticide treated bednets and intermittent preventive treatment. Malaria remains a disease of poverty; the fact that poor women are also less likely to revive antenatal care worsens the opportunities for intervention for the most vulnerable women. Future research needs to focus on new drugs and drug combinations for use in pregnancy, the impact of combined use of insecticide-treated bednets and intermittent preventive treatment, and the further exploration of a pregnancy-specific malaria vaccine.