title: Prevalence and predictors of asymptomatic malaria parasitemia among pregnant women in the rural surroundings of Arbaminch Town, South Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Sub-Saharan African countries, including Ethiopia, malaria in pregnancy is a major public health threat which results in significant morbidities and mortalities among pregnant women and their fetuses. In malaria endemic areas, Plasmodium infections tend to remain asymptomatic yet causing significant problems like maternal anemia, low birth weight, premature births, and still birth. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and predictors of asymptomatic Plasmodium infection among pregnant women in the rural surroundings of Arba Minch Town, Southern Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A community based cross-sectional study comprising multistage sampling was conducted between April and June, 2013. Socio-demographic data were collected by using a semi-structured questionnaire. Plasmodium infection was diagnosed by using Giemsa-stained blood smear microscopy and a rapid diagnostic test (SD BIOLINE Malaria Ag Pf/Pv POCT, standard diagnostics, inc., Korea).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the total 341 pregnant women participated in this study, 9.1% (31/341) and 9.7% (33/341) were confirmed to be infected with Plasmodium species by microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), respectively. The geometric mean of parasite density was 2392 parasites per microliter (μl); 2275/ μl for P. falciparum and 2032/ μl for P. vivax. Parasitemia was more likely to occur in primigravidae (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 9.4, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.3-60.5), secundigravidae (AOR: 6.3, 95% CI: 2.9-27.3), using insecticide treated bed net (ITN) sometimes (AOR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.8- 57.9), not using ITN at all (AOR: 4.6, 95% CI: 1.4-14.4) compared to multigravidae and using ITN always, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Asymptomatic malaria in this study is low compared to other studies' findings. Nevertheless, given the high risk of malaria during pregnancy, pregnant women essentially be screened for asymptomatic Plasmodium infection and be treated promptly via the antenatal care (ANC) services.
authors: Malaria and Other Parasitic and Vector-Borne Diseases Research Team, Directorate Of Parasitic, Bacterial and Zoonotic Diseases Research, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors: Desalegn
authors: D
authors: Nega
authors: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and Pathology, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia, Ethiopia.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Dana
authors: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and Pathology, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia, Ethiopia.
authors: Tamirat
authors: T
authors: Tefera
authors: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and Pathology, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia, Ethiopia.
authors: Teferi
authors: T
authors: Eshetu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D058345:Asymptomatic Infections; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D037841:Pregnant People; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D055815:Young Adult