Malaria is a significant contributor to Anemia in pregnant women, fetal loss – Prof. Okonofua

By Angela James,

A Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Benin, Edo State, Prof. Friday Okonofua, FAS, has said that Malaria is a significant contributor to Anemia in pregnant women, fetal loss, intrauterine growth retardation, delivery of low birth-weight infants and other childhood related issues.

He disclosed this while speaking with our Correspondent in Benin on Malaria in pregnant women and how it affects the unborn child.

Prof. Okonufua described malaria as a potentially life-threatening disease caused by blood parasites of the Plasmodium transmitted through the bite of an infective female Anopheles mosquito presenting with fever, chills, sore throat, diarrhoea, headache, etc after about 24/48 hours of being infected.

“Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite called plasmodium and it is of different species. The most common one is Plasmodium falciparum and it’s transmitted by the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito usually in the evening and the early part of the night. The plasmodium enters the blood system and begins to multiply and within 24 and 48 hours the infected person begins to manifest symptoms like fever, headache, chills etc.

Manifesting symptoms depend on the person’s immunity and as human beings age they begin to develop immunity. So, some persons might have the parasite but no symptoms. Someone who lives in Nigeria must have been beaten by the mosquito several times and yet will not manifest. Unlike someone living in the UK and coming down to Nigeria and it’s beaten by the mosquito, the person might come down with severe malaria”.

He further said that those at risk of getting malaria are persons living or visiting malaria-endemic areas like Nigeria and those at severe risk and complicated malaria include young children, pregnant women and persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Prof. Okonufua who is also the founder of the Women Health and Action Research Centre, WHARC, noted that the predominant Plasmodium specie in Nigeria is Plasmodium Falciparum; the greatest disease contributing to maternal and infant morbidity in Nigeria.

While mentioning maternal anaemia, fetal loss, intrauterine growth retardation and delivery of low birth-weight infants amongst others as complications of malaria, Prof. Okonufua pointed out that Plasmodium Falciparum sequesters in the placenta cause reduced food and oxygen supply to the unborn child.

“Malaria is very tough in pregnant women and children because of their immunity. During pregnancy, the immunity is decreased especially when pregnant for the first time. Malaria can be serious, especially in malaria-endemic countries such as Nigeria; Nigeria carries the highest burden of malaria in the world.

“During pregnancy immunity is reduced and sometimes malaria can be present without symptoms. The parasite will be in the bloodstream and if you were to conduct blood research you’ll find out that about 20 percent of pregnant women have malaria parasites even though the person doesn’t have symptoms it can lead to complications in both the mother and the baby.

“The most common complication is anaemia, the blood becomes very short in such a way that she will be transfused. Since the malaria parasite is in the bloodstream it can also occupy the placenta; the placenta is an organ that carries food and oxygen to the baby. And when the parasite is present there the food and oxygen supply to the baby will be reduced and the baby will be affected by what is called foetal growth retardation. And sometimes the baby dies in the womb of their mother because of malaria. Even when the baby is born there can be complications and the woman can die because the veins have been blocked by malaria.”

Prof. Okonufua recommended according to World Health Organization, WHO, that every pregnant woman in malaria endemic area be given Antimalaria treatment apart from the normal preventive measure of avoiding mosquito bites.

“WHO recommends that every pregnant woman in malaria-endemic countries such as Nigeria be given Antimalaria treatment and we know there are things you should do as the normal preventive measures. And even though the mosquito did not bite the woman but for the fact that she might have had malaria parasites in her system before pregnancy. And because of reduced immunity during pregnancy, these parasites might be activated and multiply”.

Prof. Okonufua called on pregnant women to register at the hospital to deliver safely and have a healthy baby.