Impact of Malaria at the End of Pregnancy on Infant Mortality and Morbidity

Overview

Journal J Infect Dis

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2011 Jan 5

PMID 21199881

Citations 69

Authors

Azucena Bardaji

Betuel Sigauque

Sergi Sanz

Maria Maixenchs

Jaume Ordi

John J Aponte

Samuel Mabunda

Pedro L Alonso

Clara Menendez

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: There is some consensus that malaria in pregnancy may negatively affect infant's mortality and malaria morbidity, but there is less evidence concerning the factors involved.

Methods: A total of 1030 Mozambican pregnant women were enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, and their infants were followed up throughout infancy. Overall mortality and malaria morbidity rates were recorded. The association of maternal and fetal risk factors with infant mortality and malaria morbidity was assessed.

Results: There were 58 infant deaths among 997 live-born infants. The risk of dying during infancy was increased among infants born to women with acute placental infection (odds ratio [OR], 5.08 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.77-14.53)], parasitemia in cord blood (OR, 19.31 [95% CI, 4.44-84.02]), low birth weight (OR, 2.82 [95% CI, 1.27-6.28]) or prematurity (OR, 3.19 [95% CI, 1.14-8.95]). Infants born to women who had clinical malaria during pregnancy (OR, 1.96 [95% CI, 1.13-3.41]) or acute placental infection (OR, 4.63 [95% CI, 2.10-10.24]) had an increased risk of clinical malaria during infancy.

Conclusions: Malaria infection at the end of pregnancy and maternal clinical malaria negatively impact survival and malaria morbidity in infancy. Effective clinical management and prevention of malaria in pregnancy may improve infant's health and survival.

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