Low body mass index, anaemia and poor perinatal outcome in a rural hospital in eastern Sudan.

BACKGROUND: The first step in improving early neonatal survival is to document rate of these deaths, identify the common causes. OBJECTIVES: the study was conducted at New Halfa hospital, eastern Sudan to investigate the prevalence and possible risk factors for a poor perinatal outcome, mainly low birth weight (LBW), APGAR score <5 at 1 min, fetal anaemia and perinatal mortality. RESULTS: LBW occurred in 15.3%, the perinatal death was 9.2%. Maternal low body mass index (BMI) was significantly associated with LBW (OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.0-3.2; p = 0.02), which was a risk factor for APGAR score <5 at 1 min (OR = 11.5, 95% CI = 5.9-22.5; p < 0.001) and perinatal mortality (OR = 6.5, 95% CI = 2.9-14.8, p < 0.00001). Maternal anaemia was a risk factor for fetal anaemia (OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.4-3.1; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: More attention to maternal nutrition and in an attempt to prevent anaemia may lead to improvement in the perinatal outcome.

ABO blood group system and placental malaria in an area of unstable malaria transmission in eastern Sudan.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the pathogenesis of malaria in pregnancy and its consequences for both the mother and the baby is fundamental for improving malaria control in pregnant women. AIM: The study aimed to investigate the role of ABO blood groups on pregnancy outcomes in an area of unstable malaria transmission in eastern Sudan. METHODS: A total of 293 women delivering in New Half teaching hospital, eastern Sudan during the period October 2006-March 2007 have been analyzed. ABO blood groups were determined and placental histopathology examinations for malaria were performed. Birth and placental weight were recorded and maternal haemoglobin was measured. RESULTS: 114 (39.7%), 61 (22.1%) and 118 (38.2%) women were primiparae, secundiparae and multiparae, respectively. The ABO blood group distribution was 82(A), 59 (B), 24 (AB) and 128 (O). Placental histopathology showed acute placental malaria infections in 6 (2%), chronic infections in 6 (2%), 82 (28.0%) of the placentae showed past infection and 199 (68.0%) showed no infection. There was no association between the age (OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.45-2.2; P = 0.9), parity (OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.3-1.2; P = 0.1) and placental malaria infections. In all parity blood group O was associated with a higher risk of past (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.1-3.2; P = 0.01) placental malaria infection. This was also true when primiparae were considered separately (OR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.05-6.5, P = 0.03). Among women with all placental infections/past placental infection, the mean haemoglobin was higher in women with the blood group O, but the mean birth weight, foeto-placental weight ratio was not different between these groups and the non-O group. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that women of eastern Sudan are at risk for placental malaria infection irrespective to their age or parity. Those women with blood group O were at higher risk of past placental malaria infection.