Effects of Plasmodium vivax malaria in pregnancy

Abstract

Background. Plasmodium vivax is more common than P falciparum as a cause of malaria in many parts of the tropics outside Africa. P falciparum infection has harmful effects in pregnancy, but the effects of P vivax have not been characterised. We investigated the effects of P vivax infection during pregnancy. Methods. Since 1986, pregnant Karen women living in camps for displaced people on the western border of Thailand have been encouraged to attend antenatal clinics. Karen women were screened for malaria and anaemia at each week of pregnancy until delivery, and pregnancy outcome recorded. We compared the effects of P vivax infection on anaemia and pregnancy outcome with those of P falciparum..