Trends of malaria in pregnancy and uptake of prevention measures in Wakiso District, Uganda, 2020 - 2024
- 1Makerere University School of Public Health, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; SWEEM Health Consults Limited, P.O. Box 114574, Kampala, Uganda
- 2Makerere University School of Public Health, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda
Abstract
Introduction: Despite the availability of interventions for preventing malaria in pregnancy, it remains a significant public health concern in Uganda. Understanding the trends in malaria in pregnancy and uptake of prevention interventions is critical for addressing gaps towards reducing the burden of malaria in pregnancy. This study analysed malaria in pregnancy trends and uptake of prevention measures in Wakiso District (2020-2024) to inform targeted maternal health interventions. Methods: This study employed a retrospective analysis of DHIS2 data on malaria in pregnancy (MIP) from January 2020 to December 2024 in Wakiso District, Uganda. All reported MIP cases were included, while incomplete, duplicate, or inconsistent entries were excluded. Key variables included age, location, severe MIP cases and deaths, IPTp doses, and LLIN distribution, measured as percentages relative to the number of ANC 1 attendances. Data were cleaned in Excel, analysed in STATA 14, and spatially mapped using QGIS. Descriptive analysis was performed to understand the trends of malaria in pregnancy (cases and deaths) and the coverage of IPTp and LLINs. Findings were presented as line graphs, bar graphs, and pie charts. The QGIS software package was used to describe the spatial distribution of MIP cases per administrative unit. Results: MIP cases in Wakiso District fluctuated from 5,354 cases in 2020 to 4,915 in 2024. Severe MIP cases steadily increased, rising sharply from 559 in 2021 to 935 in 2023, which also recorded the highest number of deaths (34 deaths). The uptake of IPTp1 remained the highest across the years but showed a slight decline, while IPTp3 uptake remained low, increasing from 34.7% in 2020 to 43.6% in 2024. LLIN coverage among pregnant women attending ANC1 steadily increased from 29.3% in 2021, while the highest was 54.8% in 2024. Conclusions: Wakiso District shows a moderate downward trend in MIP over the study period, with a proportion of cases progressing to severe malaria and maternal deaths. Despite this decline, IPTp uptake and LLIN distribution at the facility level remain below the WHO-recommended targets. IPTp uptake (doses 1 and 2) demonstrated a downward trend over the study period, while LLIN distribution showed an upward trend. These results suggest the need for strengthened implementation of MIP prevention interventions at the facility level in Wakiso District.
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BibTeX
@article{wejuli2026trends,
title = {{Trends of malaria in pregnancy and uptake of prevention measures in Wakiso District, Uganda, 2020 - 2024}},
author = {Junior Mike Wejuli and Apolot Hellen Bridget and Agenonga Jeff},
journal = {Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.37432/jieph-d-26-00058},
url = {https://doi.org/10.37432/jieph-d-26-00058},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Trends of malaria in pregnancy and uptake of prevention measures in Wakiso District, Uganda, 2020 - 2024
AU - Junior Mike Wejuli
AU - Apolot Hellen Bridget
AU - Agenonga Jeff
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health
DO - 10.37432/jieph-d-26-00058
UR - https://doi.org/10.37432/jieph-d-26-00058
AB - Introduction: Despite the availability of interventions for preventing malaria in pregnancy, it remains a significant public health concern in Uganda. Understanding the trends in malaria in pregnancy and uptake of prevention interventions is critical for addressing gaps towards reducing the burden of malaria in pregnancy. This study analysed malaria in pregnancy trends and uptake of prevention measures in Wakiso District (2020-2024) to inform targeted maternal health interventions. Methods: This study employed a retrospective analysis of DHIS2 data on malaria in pregnancy (MIP) from January 2020 to December 2024 in Wakiso District, Uganda. All reported MIP cases were included, while incomplete, duplicate, or inconsistent entries were excluded. Key variables included age, location, severe MIP cases and deaths, IPTp doses, and LLIN distribution, measured as percentages relative to the number of ANC 1 attendances. Data were cleaned in Excel, analysed in STATA 14, and spatially mapped using QGIS. Descriptive analysis was performed to understand the trends of malaria in pregnancy (cases and deaths) and the coverage of IPTp and LLINs. Findings were presented as line graphs, bar graphs, and pie charts. The QGIS software package was used to describe the spatial distribution of MIP cases per administrative unit. Results: MIP cases in Wakiso District fluctuated from 5,354 cases in 2020 to 4,915 in 2024. Severe MIP cases steadily increased, rising sharply from 559 in 2021 to 935 in 2023, which also recorded the highest number of deaths (34 deaths). The uptake of IPTp1 remained the highest across the years but showed a slight decline, while IPTp3 uptake remained low, increasing from 34.7% in 2020 to 43.6% in 2024. LLIN coverage among pregnant women attending ANC1 steadily increased from 29.3% in 2021, while the highest was 54.8% in 2024. Conclusions: Wakiso District shows a moderate downward trend in MIP over the study period, with a proportion of cases progressing to severe malaria and maternal deaths. Despite this decline, IPTp uptake and LLIN distribution at the facility level remain below the WHO-recommended targets. IPTp uptake (doses 1 and 2) demonstrated a downward trend over the study period, while LLIN distribution showed an upward trend. These results suggest the need for strengthened implementation of MIP prevention interventions at the facility level in Wakiso District.
SN - 2664-2824
ER -