Table 2.
Maternal and child characteristics by malaria-resistant status, The Mother–Offspring Malaria Study, 2002–2006
| Characteristic | Malaria resistant | Nonresistant |
|---|---|---|
| Maternal factors | ||
| Maternal age, years | 26.8 | 26.3 |
| Placental malaria | 5 (7.9%) | 87 (13.9%) |
| Primigravid mother | 10 (15.9%) | 170 (27.2%) |
| Maternal anemia | 31 (58.5%) | 269 (52.3%) |
| Maternal IPT use | 51 (86.4%) | 520 (88.1%) |
| Village* | ||
| Magila-Mkumbaa | 3 (4.8%) | 120 (19.2%) |
| Muheza Township | 51 (81.0%) | 256 (41.0%) |
| Mkanyageni, Mkuzi | 6 (9.5%) | 140 (22.4%) |
| Bwembwera, Potwe | 3 (4.8%) | 108 (17.3%) |
| Bednet use | 36 (70.6%) | 342 (60.8%) |
| Child factors | ||
| Male sex | 32 (50.8%) | 320 (51.3%) |
| Birth season† | ||
| Low | 40 (63.5%) | 345 (55.3%) |
| High | 23 (36.5%) | 279 (44.7%) |
| Birth weight, kg | 3.22 (0.49) | 3.19 (0.43) |
| HbS | ||
| AA | 54 (85.7%) | 519 (84.4%) |
| AS | 9 (14.3%) | 96 (15.6%) |
| Alpha Thal | ||
| a2/a2 | 26 (44.8%) | 276 (47.3%) |
| a2/a3.7 | 28 (48.3%) | 238 (40.8%) |
| a3.7/a3.7 | 4 (6.9%) | 70 (12.0%) |
| Fetal anemia (cord levels) | 12 (23.1%) | 168 (32.1%) |
| Percentage (95% CI) of visits—iron deficient‡§ | 62.8% (52.6,73.0) | 62.0% (58.9,65.1) |
| Percentage (95% CI) of visits—anemic (HgB < 8)‡ | 1.2% (0.8,1.6) | 1.2% (1.0,1.4) |
CI = confidence interval; HbS = sickle cell trait; HgB = hemoglobin; IPT = intermittent preventive treatment; Thal = thalassemia.
*
P < 0.05; Univariate analysis.
†
High transmission season was between May and October.
‡
Percentage of iron deficient/anemia–positive visits out of the number of visits where measured. Does not include subsequent blood smear–positive visits.
§
Iron deficiency was defined as ferritin level < 30 ng/mL when C-reactive protein was < 8.2 ng/mL, or ferritin level < 70 ng/mL when C-reactive protein level was > 8.2 μg/mL.