Schistosoma haematobium infection in pregnancy

Due to the economical lack of safe drugs in a remote area of Ghana (Bawku District) to treat Schistosoma haematobium infection during pregnancy, the spontaneous outcome of the pregnancy in women with proved S. haematobium infection was compared with a control group (average hospital delivery). In a survey of 200 pregnant women, we found a prevalence of S. haematobium of 4.5%. From the original collection of 41 infected pregnant women we could follow 23 up to delivery. This group showed a higher number of preterm (less than 37 weeks) deliveries, 34.8% vs. 23.8% in the control group. The birthweights in term deliveries (greater than 37 weeks) were not significantly different (3012 g vs. 3103 g). In the preterm deliveries the birthweight was significantly lower in the infected group (1768 g vs. 2457 g, p less than 0.005).