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Table 2 Summary table of studies examining placental malaria and low birth weight infants

From: The impact of malaria during pregnancy on low birth weight in East-Africa: a topical review

Authors

Country

Study design (year)

Sample size

Treatment; frequency

Method for determining malaria infection

Results/comment

Kalinjuma et al. [18]

Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania

Cohort study (2010–2013)

1115

SPa;

Start in 2nd trimester, then with every ANC visit

Polymerase chain reaction of parasite DNA; quantification of parasites in blood smear; histology of placental tissue

PMb was not significantly associated with LBWc

Kapisi et al. [4]

Tororo, Uganda

Cohort study (2014)

282

SP;

Start in 2nd trimester, then given every 8th week

Quantification of parasites in blood smear; histology of placental tissue

Malaria burden during pregnancy—> PM—> risk of LBW (trends, not significant)

Mohammed et al. [19]

Central Sudan

Case–control study (2010)

174

No information given

Polymerase chain reaction of parasite DNA; quantification of parasites in blood smear; histology of placental tissue

Submicroscopic malaria infection during pregnancy—> significantly higher risk of having a LBW delivery

Dong et al. [20]

Tanzania

Cohort study (2002–2005)

882

No information given

Quantification of parasites in blood- and placental smear

CXCL9d was significantly associated with LBW among malaria-infected primigravidae

  1. aSulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, bPlacental malaria, cLow birth weight, dCXC ligand 9. Note, all papers used the WHO definition of LBW (birth weight < 2.5 kg)