Malaria in late pregnancy in Al Hodeidah governorate, Yemen

ABSTRACT

To investigate the consequences of maternal malaria during late pregnancy, we conducted a preliminary study in the 2 hospitals in Al Hodeidah on 276 women who had uncomplicated vaginal deliveries. Only 17 women had malaria Plasmodium falciparum], 6 with peripheral parasitaemia and 11 with both peripheral parasitaemia and placental malaria. Coincident infection carried a 9.44 times higher risk of preterm delivery and a 12.2 times greater risk of low birth weight [< 2500 g]. Anaemia was diagnosed in 46.4%, associated with malaria in 11.7% of cases. All risk factors, rural residence [OR 5.18], maternal age < 20 years [OR 4.93] and primigravidae [OR 8.29], were significantly associated with malaria infection