10 Malaria in late pregnancy.pmd

1Department of Tropical Health, High Institute of Public Health, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt (Correspondence to H.K. Bassiouny: [email protected]). 2Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sana’a, Sana’a, Yemen. ABSTRACT To investigate the consequences of maternal malaria during late pregnancy, we conducted a preliminary study in the 2 hospitals in Al Hodeidah on 276 women who had uncomplicated vaginal deliveries. Only 17 women had malaria (Plasmodium falciparum), 6 with peripheral parasitaemia and 11 with both peripheral parasitaemia and placental malaria. Coincident infection carried a 9.44 times higher risk of preterm delivery and a 12.2 times greater risk of low birth weight (< 2500 g). Anaemia was diagnosed in 46.4%, associated with malaria in 11.7 % of cases. All risk factors, rural residence (OR 5.18), maternal age < 20 years (OR 4.93) and primigravidae (OR 8.29), were significantly associated with malaria infection.