The influence of malarial infection of the placenta on the incidence of prematurity.

Abstract

Records of 512 deliveries were studied. In 15% the placental smear showed evidence of malaria parasites a finding consistent with the parasite rate for adults in Ilaro during the period of the investigation. Of 68 apparently full-term deliveries from mothers with infected placentae 29.4% weighed 5.5 lb or less at birth and were classed as premature contrasting with the incidence of prematurity in 395 single full-term births from uninfected placentae at 16.5% premature. This evidence lends weight to the suggestion that malarial infection of the placenta is a cause of premature birth in Africans of southwestern Nigeria. The advisability of using chemoprophylaxis is worthy of consideration but the possible effects on womens immunity needs to be studied.