# name
Malaria in Pregnancy Is a Predictor of Infant Haemoglobin
                Concentrations during the First Year of Life in Benin, West
                Africa

# metadata.dc.description.abstract[].value
BACKGROUND: Anaemia is an increasingly recognized health problem
                in Africa, particularly in infants and pregnant women. Although
                malaria is known to be the main risk factor of anaemia in both
                groups, the consequences of maternal factors, particularly
                malaria in pregnancy (MiP), on infant haemoglobin (Hb)
                concentrations during the first months of life are still
                unclear. METHODS: We followed-up a cohort of 1005 Beninese
                pregnant women from the beginning of pregnancy until delivery. A
                subsample composed of the first 400 offspring of these women
                were selected at birth and followed until the first year of
                life. Placental histology and blood smear at 1st clinical
                antenatal visit (ANC), 2nd ANC and delivery were used to assess
                malaria during pregnancy. Infant Hb concentrations were measured
                at birth, 6, 9 and 12 months of age. A mixed multi-level model
                was used to assess the association between MiP and infant Hb
                variations during the first 12 months of life. RESULTS:
                Placental malaria (difference mean [dm] = - 2.8 g/L, 95% CI
                [-5.3, -0.3], P = 0.03) and maternal peripheral parasitaemia at
                delivery (dm = - 4.6 g/L, 95% CI [-7.9, -1.3], P = 0.007) were
                the main maternal factors significantly associated with infant
                Hb concentrations during the first year of life. Poor maternal
                nutritional status and malaria infection during infancy were
                also significantly associated with a decrease in infant Hb.
                CONCLUSION: Antimalarial control and nutritional interventions
                before and during pregnancy should be reinforced to reduce
                specifically the incidence of infant anaemia, particularly in
                Sub-Saharan countries.

# metadata.dc.relation.isformatof[].value
Reproducció del document publicat a:
                http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0129510

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

# metadata.dc.title[].value
Malaria in Pregnancy Is a Predictor of Infant Haemoglobin
                Concentrations during the First Year of Life in Benin, West
                Africa