Skip to content
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Association of low birth weight and placental malarial infection in Nigeria
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, Volume 3, No. 8, Year 2009
Notification
URL copied to clipboard!
Description
Background: Malaria causes significant morbidity and mortality among pregnant women in Nigeria. However, the contribution of malaria infection to neonatal development is incompletely understood. Here we determined the prevalence of placental malarial infection in six communities in Anambra State, Nigeria, between 2005 and 2006, and compare these data to neonatal birth weight. Methodology: Blood samples were obtained from the placenta of 500 parturient mothers and examined for the presence of malaria parasites. Newborn birth weight was then compared with the malaria status of their mothers. Results: Placental malarial infection was found in 322 of 500 mothers (64.4%). The prevalence of infection did not differ among the six different Nigerian communities (P= 0.978). Furthermore, there was no difference in infection rates between rural and urban areas (64.9% vs. 64.0%, respectively, P = 0.827). Interestingly, neonates born from mothers with placental malaria had lower birth weights than neonates born from uninfected mothers [2500 g (range 1900 g - 3200 g) vs. 3800 g (range 3200 g - 4700 g), P < 0.001]. Forty-five percent (145/322) of the newborns born from infected mothers were of low birth weight (defined as birth weight less than 2,500 g). Conclusion: Malaria infection during pregnancy is common in Nigeria and is likely associated with low newborn birth weight. Copyright © 2009 Aribodor et al.
Authors & Co-Authors
Aribodor, Dennis N.
Nigeria, Awka
Nnamdi Azikiwe University
Nwaorgu, Obioma Chebechi
Nigeria, Awka
Nnamdi Azikiwe University
Eneanya, Christine Ifeoma
Nigeria, Awka
Nnamdi Azikiwe University
Okoli, Ikechukwu N.
United States, Boston
Massachusetts General Hospital
Pukkila-Worley, Read
United States, Boston
Massachusetts General Hospital
Etaga, Harrison O.
Nigeria, Awka
Nnamdi Azikiwe University
Statistics
Citations: 42
Authors: 6
Affiliations: 2
Identifiers
Doi:
10.3855/jidc.554
Research Areas
Infectious Diseases
Maternal And Child Health
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Locations
Nigeria
Participants Gender
Female