Ambarae Thorne

11/10/14
Biology 1615

Article Summary
Burden or Malaria During Pregnancy in Gabon
Introduction
This experiment was formed to research the effect of the new recommendations
for the prevention of malaria, which is mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014), in pregnant women and their babies.
It was tested in Gabon, an area high in malaria diagnose, in primigravidae, or a woman
pregnant for the first time, and multigravidae women, or a women who is pregnant for at
least a second time. It would test whether there would be a difference in the pregnant
women using the new preventative measure or if it they had little to no effect. The
prediction was that if the women used the preventative measures a directed it would
prevent the diagnosis of malaria.

Materials and Methods

The study was done from September of 2005 to January of 2006 in Libreville, the
capital of Gabon, where malaria is an epidemic. They introduced the use of insecticidetreated bed nets and 2-3 doses of intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxinepyrimethamine (IPTp/SP) during the second and third trimester for all of the pregnant
women (Bouyou-Akotet, Nzenze-Afene, Ngoungou, et. al., 2010). To test for malaria the
did 3 different tests microscopy, P. falciparum histidin-rich protein-2 (HRP-2) detection
and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). They then observed the effect on the birth weight,
anemia in the mother and the age in weeks of the baby at the time that they were born.

Results

The results were shown in a couple different categories including primigravidae,

and multigravidae women, and their ages. Less then 20 was your, 20-24 and 25 years and
older was considered the older groups. Primigraidae women had a slightly higher mean
birth weight and the women in the young age group were associated with premature
delivery. The study showed that the new precautions did help to reduce or prevent
malaria. There was a positive impact from the bed nets in the frequency and on the mean
birth weight of the newborn babies. Also, it showed that the IPTp/SP had a positive effect
in those that attended their visits. However, because of the distance that was required to
travel to the visits many women were unable to receive all 2-3 doses. It also shows that
those who did receive all the doses were even less likely to get malaria and had better
management of anemia, prematurity and low birth weight. Delivering women in the bed
net (26%) and the IPTp/SP plus bed net groups were less frequently infected compared
who did not use malaria-prevention measures during pregnancy (46%) (Bouyou-Akotet,
Nzenze-Afene, Ngoungou, et. al., 2010).

Discussion
While these precautions cannot completely stop malaria these preventions can
reduce or prevent it. In this study the results show that those women who live in an area
where malaria in an epidemic and is a high risk should be taking the new precautions as
directed with the bad nets and the IPTp/SP. If they follow the recommendation, they
would be more likely to be able to reduce the risk of malaria for themselves and their

babies and avoid anemia, prematurity and low birth weight due to the contraction of
malaria.

Works Cited

Bouyou-Akotet, M. K., S. Nzenze-Afene, E. B. Ngoungou, E. Kendjo, M. OwonoMedang, J.-B. Lekana-Douki, G. Obono-Obiang, M. Mounanga, and M. Kombila.
"Burden of Malaria during Pregnancy at the Time of IPTp/SP Implementation
in Gabon." American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 82.2 (2010):
202-09. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.ajtmh.org/content/82/2/202.full?sid=aceec54a-dd57-424fb424-295de423ce5e>.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 Oct. 2014. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/>.