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Malaria and perinatal mortality in central Sudan
1Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Juba, Sudan.
American Journal of Epidemiology
|October 15, 1993
Summary
Maternal malaria in early pregnancy increases stillbirth risk, while late-pregnancy attacks may reduce it. Neonatal mortality risk also rises with maternal malaria, necessitating early prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Malaria in pregnancy is a significant global health concern.
- Perinatal and neonatal mortality rates remain high in malaria-endemic regions.
- Understanding the timing of malaria infection during pregnancy is crucial for risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal malaria and perinatal mortality in Central Sudan.
- To determine if the timing of malaria attacks during pregnancy influences adverse outcomes.
- To provide evidence-based recommendations for malaria prevention in pregnant women.
Main Methods:
- Conducted hospital and community-based studies in Central Sudan during 1989-1990.
- Compared cases of stillbirth and neonatal deaths with survivor controls.
- Utilized logistic regression to calculate odds ratios and confidence intervals for malaria exposure and mortality outcomes.
Main Results:
- No overall association between maternal malaria and perinatal mortality was found.
- Malaria attacks in the first and second trimesters significantly increased stillbirth risk (OR=1.4).
- Maternal malaria was associated with an increased risk of neonatal mortality (OR=2.1).
Conclusions:
- Early pregnancy malaria is linked to increased stillbirth risk.
- Maternal malaria poses a significant threat to neonatal survival.
- Prompt malaria prevention, including personal protection and prophylaxis, is recommended early in pregnancy in endemic areas.