Pregnant women and risk of malaria
Are pregnant women at increased risk of contracting malaria?
Several studies in Africa have shown that pregnant women are significantly more attractive to mosquitoes than their non-pregnant counterparts. This puts them at higher risk of diseases such as malaria that are transmitted by mosquito bites. Because of this increased susceptibility, the World Health Organization recommends that in areas where malaria is present, pregnant women should be vigilant in using protective measures against mosquito bites, such as insect repellants and insecticide-treated mosquito nets. They should ensure, however, that they do not exceed the recommended dosage of insect repellants.
There are several theories why pregnant women are more likely to be bitten by mosquitoes. One is that their increased blood flow to the skin results in the release of odours that attract mosquitoes. Another is that they have to get out of bed more often to visit the toilet and so have a greater chance of being exposed to mosquitoes during the night.
Pregnancy also appears to reduce a woman’s immunity to malaria. This makes pregnant women more susceptible to malaria infection compared with women who aren’t pregnant.
Malaria infection during pregnancy can have serious effects in both the mother and her unborn baby. In addition, many of the medicines taken to prevent malaria are not suitable during pregnancy. For these reasons, the best advice for pregnant women planning a holiday is to choose a destination where malaria is not a problem.
Last Reviewed: 17 November 2010
- 1. World Health Organization. Chapter 7. Malaria. International travel and health. Geneva: WHO; 2010. http://www.who.int/ith/ITH2009Chapter7.pdf (accessed July 2010).
2. Lindsay S, Ansell J, Selman C, Cox V, et al. Effect of pregnancy on exposure to malaria mosquitoes. Lancet 2000; 355: 1972 (accessed Jul 2010).
3. Himeidan YE, Elbashir MI, Adam I. Attractiveness of pregnant women to the malaria vector, Anopheles arabiensis, in Sudan. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 2004; 98: 631-3 (accessed Jul 2010).
4. Ansell J, Hamilton KA, Pinder M, et al. Short-range attractiveness of pregnant women to Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2002; 96(2): 113-6 (accessed Jul 2010).
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria for pregnant Women (IPTp). [Website]. http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/malaria_worldwide/reduction/iptp.html (accessed Jul 2010).
6. World Health Organization. Lives at risk: malaria in pregnancy. [Website]. April 2003. http://www.who.int/features/2003/04b/en/ (accessed July 2010).
