Microscopic and submicroscopic Plasmodium falciparum infection, maternal anaemia and adverse pregnancy outcomes in Papua New Guinea: a cohort study

Table 3 Association of microscopic and submicroscopic Plasmodium falciparum infection at delivery in maternal peripheral venous blood and placental blood with low birthweight, preterm birth and fetal growth restriction

Infection status	% (N/N total)	Adjusted odds ratio	95% confidence interval	P
P. falciparum infection at delivery (peripheral blood)
Low birthweight^a (n = 1878)
No infection	15.0 (272/1812)
Submicroscopic infection	17.2 (5/29)	1.00	(0.35, 2.83)	0.99
Microscopic infection	29.7 (11/37)	2.75	(1.27, 5.94)	0.010
Preterm birth^b (n = 1229)
No infection	8.2 (97/1190)
Submicroscopic infection	5.9 (1/17)	0.54	(0.07, 4.29)	0.56
Microscopic infection	31.8 (7/22)	6.58	(2.46, 17.62)	< 0.001
Small for gestational age^a (n = 1229)
No infection	24.1 (287/1190)
Submicroscopic infection	29.4 (5/17)	1.32	(0.44, 3.96)	0.63
Microscopic infection	31.8 (7/22)	1.71	(0.67, 4.39)	0.26
P. falciparum infection at delivery (placental blood)
Low birthweight^a (n = 1272)
No infection	13.8 (170/1228)
Submicroscopic infection	28.6 (4/14)	2.85	(0.82, 9.91)	0.10
Microscopic infection	30.0 (9/30)	2.08	(0.87, 4.98)	0.10
Preterm birth^b (n = 781)
No infection	6.9 (52/749)
Submicroscopic infection	18.2 (2/11)	3.34	(0.66, 16.83)	0.15
Microscopic infection	19.1 (4/21)	3.04	(0.89, 10.3)	0.08
Small for gestational age^a (n = 781)
No infection	21.4 (160/749)
Submicroscopic infection	36.4 (4/11)	2.60	(0.71, 9.56)	0.15
Microscopic infection	33.3 (7/21)	1.62	(0.61, 4.34)	0.34

^a Adjusted for treatment arm, gender of the baby, gravidity, number of study visits, enrolment clinic, bed net use, nutritional status, stunting, socio-economic status and timing of birthweight measurement
^b Adjusted for treatment arm, gender of the baby, gravidity, number of study visits, enrolment clinic, bed net use, nutritional status, stunting, and socio-economic status

ISSN: 1475-2875