Unstable malaria transmission and maternal mortality--experiences from Rwanda.
Data on malaria in pregnancy in unstable transmission areas are scarce. We investigated malaria in pregnancy at Byumba District Hospital, Rwanda, over 3 years (January 1997-December 1999). Byumba, at an altitude of 2300 m, has low levels of malaria transmission. A malaria epidemic in February 1998 led to a fourfold increase in malaria admissions among pregnant women and to a fivefold increase in maternal deaths because of malaria. Safe Motherhood programmes should note that even in non-epidemic years malaria can cause a large proportion of maternal deaths, and that national and international responses to malaria in pregnancy need strengthening.
Hammerich
Asmus
A
German Technical Cooperation GTZ, Basic Health Project West Bengal, India.
Campbell
Oona M R
OM
Chandramohan
Daniel
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000401:mortality* / Q000635:transmission*; D008297:Male; D008428:Maternal Mortality / Q000639:trends; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000401:mortality*; D012306:Risk; D012432:Rwanda / Q000453:epidemiology; D012621:Seasons