Table 2.
Summary table of studies examining placental malaria and low birth weight infants
| Authors | Country | Study design (year) | Sample size | Treatment; frequency | Method for determining malaria infection | Results/comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalinjuma et al. [18] | Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania | Cohort study (2010–2013) | 1115 |
SPa; Start in 2nd trimester, then with every ANC visit |
Polymerase chain reaction of parasite DNA; quantification of parasites in blood smear; histology of placental tissue | PMb was not significantly associated with LBWc |
| Kapisi et al. [4] | Tororo, Uganda | Cohort study (2014) | 282 |
SP; Start in 2nd trimester, then given every 8th week |
Quantification of parasites in blood smear; histology of placental tissue |
 Malaria burden during pregnancy—> PM—> risk of LBW (trends, not significant) |
| Mohammed et al. [19] | Central Sudan | Case–control study (2010) | 174 | No information given | Polymerase chain reaction of parasite DNA; quantification of parasites in blood smear; histology of placental tissue | Submicroscopic malaria infection during pregnancy—> significantly higher risk of having a LBW delivery |
| Dong et al. [20] | Tanzania | Cohort study (2002–2005) | 882 | No information given | Quantification of parasites in blood- and placental smear | CXCL9d was significantly associated with LBW among malaria-infected primigravidae |
aSulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, bPlacental malaria, cLow birth weight, dCXC ligand 9. Note, all papers used the WHO definition of LBW (birth weight < 2.5 kg)