Placental malaria prevalence of infestation amongst febrile pregnant women in central India: maternal and perinatal outcome.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and impact of placental malaria on maternal and fetal outcome.

Methods: Cross sectional observational. Methods: The Department of Obstetrics of Government NSCB Medical College Hospital, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh). Methods: Five hundred parturient women with fever or history of fever during the present pregnancy. Methods: Subjects were tested for peripheral and placental malaria by thick and thin smear examination. Maternal and perinatal outcome correlated with malaria results.

Results: The mean age of the studied subjects was 24.5 ± 2.6 years, 60.6 % were primigravida, 87.2 % had unsatisfactory antenatal care. 89.2 % were not using effective malaria prevention measures. Peripheral smear positivity for malaria was detected in 1.8 % subjects and placental malaria positivity in 2.2 % subjects. The mean Hb was lower in malaric subjects (χ(2) = 14.47, p < 0.05). Maternal mortality and prematurity was significantly higher in malaria +ve subjects (p < 0.001). The mean birth weight in malaria +ve subjects was significantly less (p < 0.001). Poor 5 min APGAR (p < 0.0001) and perinatal mortality (p < 0.05) was significantly more common in malaria +ve subjects.

Conclusions: Malaria, particularly placental infestation with malarial parasites significantly increases maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.