Malaria specific-IgG, inter-pregnancy intervals, birth weights and body mass index in cases of asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia

Abstract

Background & objectives : Considerations of both inter-pregnancy intervals and malaria parasitaemiamay help in understanding some aspects of susceptibility and pregnancy outcomes in malaria endemicareas.Methods : Pregnant women with asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia were recruited and divided intogroups based on their inter-pregnancy intervals and malaria specific-IgG, body mass index, and birthweights were studied in the groups.Results : The results showed that the P. falciparum specific-IgG concentration (f = 3.52, p<0.02), malariaparasites density (f = 6.44, p<0.001) and birth weights (f =7.36, p<0.001) were significantly differentamongst the groups with varying inter-pregnancy intervals. In addition, different levels of associationsbetween variables such as ‘inter-pregnancy intervals vs P. falciparum specific-IgG concentration’(r = 0.23, p<0.05); ‘malaria parasites density vs birth weight’ (r = –0.84, p < 0.01) was observed.Interpretations & conclusion : This study suggests that inter-pregnancy intervals could be one ofthe factors influencing dynamic serum concentrations of P. falciparum specific-IgG while malaria parasitaemiacould be one of the factors affecting birth weights. Hence, observance of inter-pregnancyintervals has its own implications in malaria endemic areas.

Keywords

• Asymptomatic malaria
• inter-pregnancy interval
• neonatal birth weight
• parasitaemia