Table 1.

Maternal measurements at the antenatal booking clinic by grade of placental malaria^*

	Grade
Maternal measurement at antenatal booking	0 (non-infected placenta)	1 (infected placenta)	2 (infected placenta)	P value†
Height (cm)
No	111	176	139
Median	155.0	154.5	153.0
Mean (standard deviation)	155.1 (6.2)	154.7 (6.2)	153.2 (6.5)	P≤0.020
Interiliac crests (cm)
No	98	150	113
Median	24.8	24.5	24.0
Mean (standard deviation)	24.7 (1.6)	24.5 (1.5)	24.0 (1.5)	P≤0.001
Inter-greater trochanter (cm)
No	98	150	113
Median	27.8	27.3	27.0
Mean (standard deviation)	27.6 (1.8)	27.4 (1.6)	26.9 (1.5)	P≤0.002
Foot size (Clarks' foot gauge)
No	98	153	116
Median	5.0	5.0	4.5
Mean (standard deviation)	4.9 (1.5)	4.9 (1.5)	4.5 (1.6)	P≥0.060‡
Weight (kg)
No	114	177	140
Median	49.8	49.3	47.1
Mean (standard deviation)	51.2 (8.4)	50.0 (7.4)	48.0 (6.6)	P≤0.001
Mid-arm circumference (mm)
No	113	177	140
Median	244	238	232
Mean (standard deviation)	249 (27)	243 (23)	235 (21)	P≤0.001
Triceps skinfold (mm)
No	55	107	69
Median	11.6	11.3	11.2
Mean (standard deviation)	12.6 (4.6)	11.9 (3.9)	11.4 (3.4)	P≥0.270‡
Body mass index (kg/m2)
No	111	176	139
Median	20.8	20.6	20.0
Mean (standard deviation)	21.3 (2.7)	20.8 (2.3)	20.4 (2.2)	P≤0.006

All variables were tested and all except height and triceps skinfold showed non-normal distributions, log transformation was not successful so non-parametric statistics were used.

^*0=no parasites in 150 fields; 1=1-49 parasites per 50 fields; 2=more than 50 parasites per 50 fields.

^†One way (denotes parametric test, equal variances) analysis of variance (for three groups) or Joncheere-Terpstra for non-parametric variables.

^‡Not significant.