BACKGROUND: Malaria in early pregnancy occurs at a time when the placenta is developing, with possible consequences on placental function and fetal growth. We assessed the association between first trimester malaria and fetal growth documented through repeated ultrasound scans. METHODS: The RECIPAL preconceptional cohort included 411 Beninese pregnant women followed from 7 weeks' gestation (wg) until delivery. Among them, 218 had four scans for fetal monitoring at 16, 22, 28, and 34wg. Multivariate seemingly unrelated regression models were used to assess the association of microscopic malaria in the first trimester (<15wg) with abdominal circumference, head circumference, biparietal diameter and femur length throughout the pregnancy. RESULTS: Of the 39% (86/218) of women with at least one microscopic malarial infection during pregnancy, 52.3% (45/86) were infected in the first trimester. Most women (88.5%) were multiparous. There was no association between adjusted Z-scores for fetal growth parameters and first trimester malaria. Parity, newborn sex, socioeconomic level and maternal BMI significantly influenced fetal growth. CONCLUSIONS: In a context where malaria infections in pregnancy are well detected and treated, their adverse effect on fetal growth may be limited. Our results argue in favour of preventing and treating infections as early as in the first trimester.
- Malaria in the first trimester of pregnancy and fetal growth: results from a Beninese pre-conceptional cohort
- Babagnidé François Koladjo - United NationsEmmanuel Yovo - Institut de Recherche Clinique du BéninManfred Accrombessi - London School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineGino Agbota - Université de Montpellier, Recherches translationnelles sur le VIH et les Maladies Infectieuses endémiques et émergentes - TransVIHMIWilliam Atade - Institut de Recherche Clinique du BéninOlaiitan T. Ladikpo - Institut de Recherche Clinique du BéninMurielle Mehoba - Institut de Recherche Clinique du BéninAuguste Degbe - Institut de Recherche Clinique du BéninNikki Jackson - University of OxfordAchille Massougbodji - Institut de Recherche Clinique du BéninDarius Sossou - Institut de Recherche Clinique du BéninKoffi Bertin Vianou - Institut de Recherche Clinique du BéninMichel Cot - Institut de Recherche pour le DéveloppementGilles Cottrell - Université Paris CitéNadine Fievet - Université Paris CitéJennifer Zeitlin - Sorbonne Paris CitéValerie Briand - Université Paris Cité
- Journal of Infectious Diseases
- 99197049909311
- Recherches translationnelles sur le VIH et les Maladies Infectieuses endémiques et émergentes - TransVIHMI
- English
- Journal article
- hal-03599254