Low birthweight associated with maternal anaemia and Plasmodium falciparuminfection during pregnancy, in a peri-urban/urban area of low endemicity in Uganda

A cross-sectional study of pregnant women was conducted at Nsambya Hospital in Kampala, to investigate the prevalence and effect of Plasmodium falcipa rum infections during pregnancy, in a peri-urban/urban location. Overall, 5 44 pregnant women were recruited when they presented at the labour ward for delivery. After giving informed consent, each subject answered a questionn aire and underwent a physical examination, and peripheral-blood samples wer e obtained. After each uncomplicated delivery, samples of placental and cor d blood were obtained from the placenta and infant, respectively, and infan t birthweights were recorded. Smears were prepared from the blood samples a nd checked for parasites. Only 46 and 36 of the 537 women investigated were positive for P. falciparum infection in their peripheral and placental blo od, respectively. Plasmodium falciparum was the only parasite encountered. The prevalences of low birthweight and maternal parasitaemia and the intens ities of maternal infection were each greater in primigravidae than secundi - or multi-gravidae. Despite the low prevalence of parasitaemia in this pop ulation, P. falciparum infection in the primigravidae was a significant con tributor to their ill health, leading to low birthweights in their infants.