Maternal HIV infection and infant mortality in Malawi: evidence for increased mortality due to placental malaria infection
Abstract
To examine the relationship between maternal HIV infection, placental malaria infection, and infant mortality as a first step in investigating the possibility of increased vertical transmission of HIV due to placental malaria infection. Retrospective analysis of data from a cohort study of mothers and infants in rural Malawi conducted from 1987 to 1990. Pregnant women in Malawi were enrolled in a study examining chemoprophylaxis during pregnancy. At delivery, placental malaria infection status was determined. Infants born into this study were visited every 2 months for the first 2-3 years of life. Deaths were investigated using a standardized 'verbal autopsy' interview. Maternal serum collected during pregnancy was tested for antibodies to HIV-1 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with Western blot confirmation. Overall, 138 (5.3%) of 2608 women in the study were HIV-1-seropositive. Infant mortality rates were 144 and 235 per 1000 live births for children born to HIV-seronegative and HIV-seropositive women, respectively (P < 0.001). In a multivariate model, the odds of dying during the post-neonatal period for an infant born to a mother with both placental malaria and HIV infection was 4.5 times greater than an infant born to ...Continue Reading
Associated Clinical Trials
Citations
Increasing rates of malarial fever with deteriorating immune status in HIV-1-infected Ugandan adults
Predictors of fetal anemia and cord blood malaria parasitemia among newborns of HIV-positive mothers
Related Concepts
Related Feeds
Antimalarial Agents (ASM)
Antimalarial agents, also known as antimalarials, are designed to prevent or cure malaria. Discover the latest research on antimalarial agents here.
Antimalarial Agents
Antimalarial agents, also known as antimalarials, are designed to prevent or cure malaria. Discover the latest research on antimalarial agents here.