# name
Risk factors and pregnancy outcomes associated with placental
                malaria in a prospective cohort of Papua New Guinean women

# metadata.dc.description.abstract[].value
BACKGROUND: Plasmodium falciparum in pregnancy results in
                substantial poor health outcomes for both mother and child,
                particularly in young, primigravid mothers who are at greatest
                risk of placental malaria (PM) infection. Complications of PM
                include maternal anaemia, low birth weight and preterm delivery,
                which contribute to maternal and infant morbidity and mortality
                in coastal Papua New Guinea (PNG). METHODS: Placental biopsies
                were examined from 1451 pregnant women who were enrolled in a
                malaria prevention study at 14-26 weeks gestation. Clinical and
                demographic information were collected at first antenatal clinic
                visits and women were followed until delivery. Placental
                biopsies were collected and examined for PM using histology. The
                presence of infected erythrocytes and/or the malaria pigment in
                monocytes or fibrin was used to determine the type of placental
                infection. RESULTS: Of 1451 placentas examined, PM infection was
                detected in 269 (18.5%), of which 54 (3.7%) were acute, 55
                (3.8%) chronic, and 160 (11.0%) were past infections. Risk
                factors for PM included residing in rural areas (adjusted odds
                ratio (AOR) 3.65, 95% CI 1.76-7.51; p </= 0.001), being
                primigravid (AOR 2.45, 95% CI 1.26-4.77; p = 0.008) and having
                symptomatic malaria during pregnancy (AOR 2.05, 95% CI
                1.16-3.62; p = 0.013). After adjustment for covariates, compared
                to uninfected women, acute infections (AOR 1.97, 95% CI
                0.98-3.95; p = 0.056) were associated with low birth weight
                babies, whereas chronic infections were associated with preterm
                delivery (AOR 3.92, 95% CI 1.64-9.38; p = 0.002) and anaemia
                (AOR 2.22, 95% CI 1.02-4.84; p = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Among
                pregnant PNG women receiving at least one dose of intermittent
                preventive treatment in pregnancy and using insecticide-treated
                bed nets, active PM infections were associated with adverse
                outcomes. Improved malaria prevention is required to optimize
                pregnancy outcomes.

# metadata.dc.source[].value
Articles publicats en revistes (ISGlobal)

# metadata.dc.title[].value
Risk factors and pregnancy outcomes associated with placental
                malaria in a prospective cohort of Papua New Guinean women