Malaria during pregnancy remains a critical factor driving maternal anemia in sub-Saharan Africa. Modeling estimates suggest 2.41 million cases of moderate or severe anemia in 2023 without preventive measures. Data from 12,608 pregnancies across seven African countries were analyzed, combining hemoglobin levels, gravidity, gestational age, and Plasmodium falciparum infections. For 2023, an estimated 13.1 million pregnancies in malaria-endemic regions were exposed to the parasite, projected to cause 2.41 million moderate to severe anemia cases. Of these, approximately 600,000 were severe anemia cases.
Research indicates that intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in pregnancy, using sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, averted an estimated 1.10 million cases of moderate or severe anemia and 330,000 severe cases in 2023. Despite a substantial decline in the overall burden, malaria in pregnancy continues to significantly contribute to maternal anemia. Reduced immunity among multigravid women in areas with lower transmission raises concerns that disruptions to preventive treatment programs could lead to a rapid resurgence of severe maternal anemia.