title: Malaria burden among pregnant women living in the rural district of Boromo, Burkina Faso.
abstract: In two cross-sectional surveys carried out in the rural health district of Boromo, Burkina Faso, malaria infection was evaluated in 295 pregnant women in May 2003 and 288 pregnant women in December 2003. Malaria prevalence, all P. falciparum infection, was higher in December (32.2%) than in May (11.9%) (P < 0.0001). In both surveys primigravidae had a significantly higher risk of infection than multigravidae (P < 0.0001). Such risk decreased significantly and progressively with gestational age, the highest risk being during the first trimester. Women who had not attended the antenatal clinic had also a significantly higher risk of malaria infection. Despite the high antenatal clinic attendance and the use (or misuse) of chloroquine chemoprophylaxis, malaria remains an important problem for pregnant women living in the rural district of Boromo. This requires a major effort by the health authorities to guarantee all pregnant women have access to and use preventive measures.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, Ouagadougou 09, Burkina Faso. sheickoumar@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sheick Oumar
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Coulibaly
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gies
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: D'Alessandro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D002050:Burkina Faso / Q000453:epidemiology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D020073:Gravidity; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters; D012424:Rural Population