Poorly treated malaria in pregnancy can hinder babies’ growth – Gynaecologists

Maternal health experts are warning that inadequate treatment of malaria during pregnancy poses significant risks, potentially inflaming the placenta and reducing vital oxygen and nutrient flow to the unborn baby. This can lead to restricted growth, premature birth, and even stillbirth.

Pregnancy naturally compromises a woman's immunity, increasing her susceptibility to severe malaria and its dangerous complications. Experts stress that early diagnosis, prompt treatment, and preventive medication are crucial for safeguarding both the mother and the child.

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Malaria has effects on both the mother and the baby during pregnancy. To avoid these deleterious effects, malaria must be diagnosed early and treated properly.

The World Health Organization identifies malaria in pregnancy as a major public health issue, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2018 alone, an estimated 11 million pregnant women in the region were infected, resulting in nearly 900,000 babies born with low birth weight.

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If malaria is not properly diagnosed and treated, both the mother and the baby stand the risk of developing the adverse effects of malaria during pregnancy.

Nigeria carries the highest malaria burden globally, accounting for 27 percent of cases and 31 percent of deaths. The Federal Ministry of Health reports that malaria is linked to 11 percent of maternal deaths and 70.5 percent of pregnancy-related morbidity in the country.

Professor Aniekan Abasiattai of the University of Uyo highlighted that malaria parasites can remain hidden in the placenta, even if not easily detected in the mother's blood, disrupting essential nutrient and oxygen exchange necessary for fetal development. He emphasized the critical need for early and proper diagnosis and treatment to prevent adverse outcomes.

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In malaria-endemic environments like ours, the malaria parasites may not even be visible in the peripheral blood, but they can sequester in the placenta and reduce the exchange of nutrients and oxygen to the foetus. As a result, the baby’s growth is