The impact of endemic and epidemic malaria on the risk of stillbirth in two areas of Tanzania with different malaria transmission patterns

Wort, U. U., Hastings, Ian ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1332-742X, Mutabingwa, T. K. and Brabin, Bernard (2006) 'The impact of endemic and epidemic malaria on the risk of stillbirth in two areas of Tanzania with different malaria transmission patterns'. Malaria Journal, Vol 5.

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Abstract

Background: The impact of malaria on the risk of stillbirth is still under debate. The aim of the present analysis was to determine comparative changes in stillbirth prevalence between two areas of Tanzania with different malaria transmission patterns in order to estimate the malaria attributable component.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was completed of stillbirth differences between primigravidae and multigravidae in relation to malaria cases and transmission patterns for two different areas of Tanzania with a focus on the effects of the El Nino southern climatic oscillation ( ENSO). One area, Kagera, experiences outbreaks of malaria, and the other area, Morogoro, is holoendemic. Delivery and malaria data were collected over a six year period from records of the two district hospitals in these locations.
Results: There was a significantly higher prevalence of low birthweight in primigravidae compared to multigravidae for both data sets. Low birthweight and stillbirth prevalence ( 17.5% and 4.8%) were significantly higher in Kilosa compared to Ndolage ( 11.9% and 2.4%). There was a significant difference in stillbirth prevalence between Ndolage and Kilosa between malaria seasons ( 2.4% and 5.6% respectively, p < 0.001) and during malaria seasons ( 1.9% and 5.9% respectively, p < 0.001). During ENSO there was no difference ( 4.1% and 4.9%, respectively). There was a significant difference in low birthweight prevalence between Ndolage and Kilosa between malaria seasons ( 14.4% and 23.0% respectively, p < 0.001) and in relation to malaria seasons ( 13.9% and 25.2% respectively, p < 0.001). During ENSO there was no difference ( 22.2% and 19.8%, respectively). Increased low birthweight risk occurred approximately five months following peak malaria prevalence, but stillbirth risk increased at the time of malaria peaks.
Conclusion: Malaria exposure during pregnancy has a delayed effect on birthweight outcomes, but a more acute effect on stillbirth risk.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.malariajournal.com/content/5/1/89
Uncontrolled Keywords:	low-birth-weight placental malaria sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine infant-mortality rural malawi pregnancy prevention infection africa preeclampsia
Subjects:	WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 755.1 General coverage WQ Obstetrics > Pregnancy Complications > WQ 225 Spontaneous abortion. Fetal death WQ Obstetrics > Pregnancy Complications > WQ 256 Infectious diseases
Faculty: Department:	Groups (2002 - 2012) > Child & Reproductive Health Group Groups (2002 - 2012) > Molecular & Biochemical Parasitology Group
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-5-89
Depositing User:	Ms Julia Martin
Date Deposited:	02 Feb 2011 09:39
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2019 11:29
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/1633

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