Malaria in pregnancy.

Malaria is a complex parasitic disease affecting about 32 million pregnancies each year in sub-Saharan Africa. Pregnant women are especially susceptible to malarial infection and have the risk of developing severe disease and birth complications. The target of Millennium Development Goal 6 is to end malaria deaths by 2015. Maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality due to malaria may be reduced by implementing preventive measures, early diagnosis of suspected cases, effective antimalarial therapy and treatment of complications.