Maternal Malaria and Its Effects on Newborns in Nigeria
Author Information
Author(s): Ayoola Omolola O., Gemmell Isla, Omotade Olayemi O., Adeyanju Olusoji A., Cruickshank J. Kennedy, Clayton Peter Ellis
Primary Institution: University of Manchester
Hypothesis
Does maternal malaria during pregnancy affect newborn blood pressure and growth?
Conclusion
Maternal malaria significantly impacts fetal growth rates and newborn blood pressure, with higher parasite density leading to smaller birth sizes.
Supporting Evidence
- 48% of mothers had malaria parasitaemia during pregnancy.
- Babies of mothers with malaria were smaller by 300g compared to those without.
- Newborns whose mothers had malaria at delivery had lower blood pressure.
Takeaway
If a mom has malaria while pregnant, her baby might be smaller and have different blood pressure than babies whose moms didn't have malaria.
Methodology
The study involved 436 mother-baby pairs, measuring blood pressure, birth size, and malaria status through blood tests.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to reliance on self-reported malaria prevention measures.
Limitations
The study was conducted in a specific region of Nigeria, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Healthy women aged 18–45 years from a semi-urban community in Nigeria.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001 for maternal age, p=0.022 for primigravida association
Confidence Interval
95% CI 100–400 for birth weight difference
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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