Malaria and prematurity in the western region of nigeria

Out of 362 newborn African babies 30% had a placenta infected with malaria parasites. The mean birth weight in the 130 newborn that had an infected placenta was 11 oz. (312 g.) less than the birth weight of 262 whose placenta was not infected. There were 33% of premature babies in deliveries where the placenta was found infected with malaria parasites ; in deliveries with non-infected placenta the respective figure was 12%. There was no case of congenital malaria among 117 newborn, 25.6% of whom had an infected placenta. There appears to be a negative correlation between frequency of infection of the placenta and the parity of the African mother. © 1958, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.