Routine deworming during antenatal care decreases risk of neonatal mortality and low birthweight: A retrospective cohort of survey data

Background Soil transmitted helminths (STH) are a common infection among pregnant women in areas with poor access to sanitation. Deworming medications cheap and safe; however, the health benefit of deworming during pregnancy is not clear. Methods / Principal findings We created retrospective cohort more than 800,000 births from 95 Demographic Health Survey datasets estimate impact medicine routine antenatal care (ANC) on neonatal mortality low birthweight. first matched probability receiving ANC. then modeled birth outcomes group as random intercept effect after accounting for various risk factors. also tested modification soil helminth prevalence Receipt medication ANC was associated 14% reduction (95% confidence interval = 10–17%, n 797,772 births), no difference between high transmission countries. In countries, we found an 11% odds weight 8–13%) medicine, 2% birthweight 0–5%). Conclusions Significance These results suggest substantial that may be even greater countries STH transmission.