STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF MALARIA INFECTION IN NEONATAL PERIOD AND ITS MATERNAL AND FETAL OUTCOME

Objective: To investigate malaria infection effects during pregnancy in neonatal period.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Place and Duration: The study was carried out in Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Services Hospital, Lahore for the period of one year from February 2016 to February 2017.

Methods: Female patients with 1-year incidence of premature births, low birth weight (DDA) incidence from 2016-2017, 29 males and 29 females who delivered (IUGR) were selected for the same period without malaria. pregnant women delivered in Hospitals.

Findings: Patients with malaria had greater risk of preterm labor a 3.1 times (p = 0.14). Anemic chances of anemic were higher (95% CI = 1.6-5.4, RR = 2.9) and hemoglobin lower mean level at significant levels when compared to women who had no disease 0.0001 p value. Low birth weight infants (p = 0.001) are because of Maternal malaria was significantly associated. Infants born to a pregnant woman with malaria has mean birth weight of 461 grams (p < 0.0005). However, there was no relationship significantly between IUGR and malaria infection in pregnancy (p = 0.33).

Conclusion: In pregnancy Malaria infection is associated with poor fetal and maternal outcomes. It is associated significantly with maternal anemia and low birth weight neonates. For this reason, appropriate measures should be taken during pregnancy to prevent malaria, in endemic areas especially.

Key words: Malaria, Pregnant women, premature birth, neonatal period.