Prevalence of Malaria in Pregnancy as Rwanda Moves towards Malaria Elimination

Malaria has seen a steady decline in Rwanda, yet certain vulnerable groups such as pregnant women experience life-threatening episodes of malaria. In order to move closer to malaria elimination, Rwanda needed an accurate estimate of prevalence of malaria in pregnancy. A sample of 4050 newly pregnant women was chosen in six districts and 38 antenatal care (ANC) clinics across the country to determine the current level of malaria in pregnancy using rapid diagnostic tests administered by the health staff in charge of ANC clinics. Two districts each were chosen in areas of higher, moderate and lower malaria transmission. Overall 3% of pregnant women tested positive for malaria. This ranged from 6% in the relative higher prevalence districts to 1% in the expected moderate prevalence districts to 0% in the low prevalence districts. The results provide the National Malaria Control Program with evidence that malaria in Rwanda is currently a focal disease and that focused intervention, such as screening and treating pregnant women in focal transmission areas should ensure that continued progress is made toward eliminating malaria from the country and protecting the lives of pregnant women