Prevalence of gestational malaria in Ecuador

Abstract

Introduction: Gestational malaria, defined as the presence of Plasmodium spp in maternal peripheral blood or in the placenta, is considered an important public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions. Objective: To determine the frequency of gestational malaria (GM) cases diagnosed cases in Ecuador between 2015 and 2018. Materials and methods: This study corresponds to a descriptive, retrospective and cross-sectional investigation. Results: Gestational malaria was determined in 46 cases from 2015 to 2018; in 25 cases caused by Plasmodium falciparum and in the remaining 21 by Plasmodium vivax. The most affected year in this period was 2018. The age range group more affected was the group from 20 to 29 years old, with 21 cases (46%). Likewise, the second trimester of pregnancy presented the highest prevalence with 17 cases (37%). Significant difference was only observed between cases per year and parasitic species. Conclusion: Gestational malaria in Ecuador has increased in the last five years, so it is important to inform pregnant women about preventive measures to avoid infection with the parasite, since it can have serious consequences for both the mother and her unborn child.