An Overview Of The Challenges Of Managing Malaria In Pregnancy As A Public Health Problem In The South West Region Of Cameroon

Malaria accounts for 40% of public health expenditure, 30% to 50% of inpatient admission, and up to
50% of outpatient visits in endemic regions. It has affected Africa’s human resources and directly lowered its annual economic growth. It is hypothesized that the majority of sequelae in pregnancy results from two main factors: the immunocompromised state of pregnancy and placental sequestration of infected erythrocytes. There have been the combined efforts of the World Health Organization, its Rollback Malaria Partners and the various governments in the different countries afflicted by the malaria scourge adopting a cost-effective intervention strategy, which comprises a three-pronged approach: vector control, chemoprophylaxis, and case management. The social crisis affecting the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon with a displaced population, could be affecting malaria epidemiology in the area and this could constitute an enormous challenge that could impede malaria management. This was a facility based cross sectional study using a research instrument with participants’ medical records. Data was managed and then analysed. based on the research questions and the following conclusions were arrived at: Placental malaria can occur at any time during pregnancy; currently used medications do not always clear peripheral or placental infections; women who begin antenatal care in the third trimester have the highest prevalence of malaria than those who begin earlier and are followed up ; past and existing ailments such as urinary tract infection, Hepatitis B, anemia, pre- eclampsia have been found as enhancing factors to malaria
in pregnancy; greater number of the women not using insecticide treated nets easily develop malaria infection; myth that malaria is caused by witches is significant in the internally displaced and less educated women. The following are recommended after this study: new antimalarial drug combinations that can be administered in the first trimester need to be evaluated in future clinical trials; future studies to explore the use of effective antimalarials coupled with intermittent preventive treatment may be beneficial; future trials of nutrient supplementations require careful study designs such as having intermittent-screening and treatment with nutrient supplementations, or choosing a trial site in a lower transmission setting where intermittent preventive treatment is not a first line policy.