Malaria at delivery in Abidjan.

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Infectious Diseases
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Malaria poses a significant threat to maternal and infant health, particularly in holoendemic regions.
• Understanding the prevalence and impact of malaria during pregnancy is crucial for effective public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of malarial parasitaemia in mothers and newborns during delivery.
• To investigate the relationship between malaria, parity, birthweight, and gestational age.
• To assess the incidence of intrauterine infections in newborns.

Main Methods:

• A study was conducted on 198 consecutive deliveries in a malaria-holoendemic region.
• Mothers' blood and umbilical cord blood were analyzed for malarial parasitaemia.
• Infant birthweights and gestational ages were recorded.
• Newborn IgM concentrations were measured to detect intrauterine infections.

Main Results:

• 39.4% of mothers exhibited malarial parasitaemia, with 55% of infected mothers having malaria in cord blood.
• Malaria incidence decreased with increasing parity, suggesting an age-related protective effect.
• Malaria was found to be a contributing factor to low birthweight, preterm birth, and small-for-date infants.
• A correlation was observed between maternal nutritional status and malarial infection.
• 2.5% of newborns showed signs of intrauterine infection based on cord blood IgM levels.

Conclusions:

• Maternal malaria is prevalent in holoendemic areas and significantly affects pregnancy outcomes.
• Malaria contributes to adverse birth outcomes, including low birthweight and preterm delivery.
• Further research into the interplay of malaria, nutrition, and parity is warranted to improve maternal and child health.