Malaria in Pregnancy: Enhancing Healthcare Practices and Uptake of Preventive Interventions

Malaria in pregnancy remains a significant public health challenge, particularly in endemic regions across sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and parts of Latin America. Pregnant women are among the most vulnerable populations, facing heightened risks of maternal anaemia, low birth weight, stillbirth, and maternal mortality as a consequence of Plasmodium infection. Over the past few decades, preventive measures such as intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp), insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs), and improved case management have contributed to reductions in disease incidence and adverse outcomes. However, substantial gaps persist in reaching at-risk populations, understanding local epidemiological trends, and ensuring the uptake and effectiveness of preventive interventions. Ongoing challenges include optimizing intervention delivery, responding to drug and insecticide resistance, and integrating malaria prevention and control into broader maternal health services.The goal of this Research Topic is to address the persistent burden of malaria in pregnancy by improving understanding of the epidemiological patterns and health impacts of Plasmodium infection, and by identifying practical strategies to strengthen the delivery and integration of malaria prevention and care within maternal health services.This Research Topic aims to advance understanding of malaria in pregnancy through a public health lens, with emphasis on epidemiology, prevention strategies, maternal and neonatal outcomes, and barriers and facilitators to effective healthcare delivery. The objective is to gather state-of-the-art evidence on disease burden, intervention effectiveness, and real-world practices that can improve health outcomes for pregnant women and their infants. Special attention will be given to translating epidemiological and operational insights into actionable strategies, the role of health systems in supporting prevention and treatment, and the social and cultural factors influencing intervention uptake.Within the scope of malaria in pregnancy, this Research Topic will focus particularly on epidemiological patterns, prevention modalities, maternal health impacts, healthcare practices, and the uptake of recommended interventions. We welcome contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:o Descriptive and analytical epidemiology of malaria in pregnancy across diverse settingso Assessment and innovation in preventive interventions, including IPTp, vector control, and antenatal care integrationo Maternal and neonatal health outcomes associated with malaria infection during pregnancyo Healthcare delivery models, provider practices, and health system challengeso Factors influencing the implementation and acceptance of preventive and treatment measures among pregnant womeno Policy initiatives and community engagement for malaria control in pregnancyo The impact of drug and insecticide resistance on the effectiveness of interventionso Integration of new technologies, surveillance systems, and digital health tools in prevention effortsWe encourage submissions in the form of original research, systematic reviews, scoping reviews, policy analyses, implementation studies, and viewpoints relevant to these themes. Topic editors: Bamgboye Morakinyo Afolabi, Victor Inem Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80303/malaria-in-pregnancy-enhancing-healthcare-practices-and-uptake-of-preventive-interventions