Objective:

To evaluate the diagnostic performance of microscopy and mRDTs compared to qPCR among pregnant women at delivery in Busia County, Western Kenya, and to assess the prevalence of malaria in pregnancy (MiP) and its association with ABO blood group and maternal hemoglobin levels.

Approach:

Key Findings:

• Malaria in pregnancy (MiP) is a significant public health issue in Busia County, with limited data on its prevalence and diagnostic performance.
• Microscopy and mRDTs may have limitations in detecting low parasite densities, particularly in placental malaria cases.
• qPCR is a more sensitive method for detecting Plasmodium falciparum but requires specialized resources.

Interpretation:

Limitations:

• Resource scarcity in malaria-endemic areas limits access to advanced diagnostic methods like qPCR.
• Microscopy may fail to detect submicroscopic parasite densities.

Conclusion:

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