title: Effect of HIV infection and Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia on pregnancy outcomes in Malawi.
abstract: Plasmodium falciparum and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are both risk factors for low birth weight (LBW) and maternal anemia, and they may interact to increase risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. In 2005 and 2006, we followed 831 pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics in southern Malawi through delivery. HIV was associated with increased risk of LBW (adjusted prevalence ratio [PR(adj)] = 3.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.40, 6.79). Having greater than or equal to three episodes of peripheral parasitemia was also associated with increased risk of LBW (PR(adj) = 2.68, 95% CI = 1.06, 6.79). Among multigravidae, dual infection resulted in 9.59 (95% CI = 2.51, 36.6) times the risk of LBW compared with uninfected multigravidae. HIV infection and placental parasitemia were each associated with increased risk of anemia. Thus, HIV infection and parasitemia are important independent risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Among multigravidae, HIV infection and placental parasitemia may interact to produce an impact greater than the sum of their independent effects.
authors: Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA. ella.nkhoma@gmail.com
authors: Ella T
authors: ET
authors: Nkhoma
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Kalilani-Phiri
authors: Victor
authors: V
authors: Mwapasa
authors: Stephen J
authors: SJ
authors: Rogerson
authors: Steven R
authors: SR
authors: Meshnick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008295:Malawi / Q000453:epidemiology; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D055815:Young Adult