A study of malaria parasitaemia in pregnant women, placentae, cord blood and newborn babies in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

The peripheral blood of 101 pregnant women at delivery, their 105 new born babies and the corresponding placental, and cord blood smears were examined cross sectionally for malaria parasites, during a 3 month period (May-July, 1986). The average maternal age was 26.3 years. Positive parasitaemia was found in 2.97% of maternal peripheral thick blood films; in 2.94% of placental smears, and in 0.95% of cord blood films. Congenital malaria did not occur in the babies.

PIP: During May-July 1986 in Nigeria, health workers collected blood samples at delivery from 101 pregnant women, 15-39 years old; their 105 newborns; the placenta; and the umbilical cord to examine the presence and level of transplacental transmission of malaria parasites, the effects of parasitemia on the birth weight of the newborns, and the degree of malaria prophylaxis in pregnancy. The women delivered at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba; Randale Avenue Health Centre, Surulere; and the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Campbell Street. Mean gravidity and parity were 1.8 and 3.2, respectively. Six of the births were stillborn. None of them had a positive smear of the maternal, placental, cord, or own blood slides. 40.6% of all mothers and 45% of primiparae took chemoprophylaxis during the last month of pregnancy. Observed parasite forms were schizonts, trophozoites, and rings. One primigravida and 2 non-primigravidae (2.94%) had positive placental smears. Just 1 of these mothers was on malaria prophylaxis (25 mg tablets of pyrimethamine) during the last month of pregnancy. Malaria parasites were present in 2.97% of maternal peripheral blood samples. Just 1 cord blood sample had malaria parasites. Malaria parasites were not observed in any of the newborns' peripheral blood samples. Mothers who used malaria prophylaxis delivered infants whose birth weight was essentially the same as those who did not use prophylaxis. The weight of infants with a positive placental smear did not differ from those with a negative smear (p 0.8). These findings suggest that none of the newborns acquired congenital malaria.