Communication and Birth Experiences Among Black Birthing People Who Experienced Preterm Birth.

PURPOSE: Physically or psychologically distressing birth experiences can influence postpartum health, parenting efficacy, and future pregnancy plans. Communication deficits contribute to negative birth experiences. This qualitative analysis explored themes related to communication and negative birth experiences among Black birthing people who experienced preterm birth. METHODS: We conducted qualitative interviews with non-Hispanic Black, English language-proficient birthing people with Medicaid-insured preterm infants. Interviews were designed to explore experiences with health care access and well-being after birth. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and coded following an integrated approach where we applied a priori codes and captured emergent themes from the data. RESULTS: We interviewed 30 participants from October 2018 to July 2021. Median gestational age at birth was 30 weeks (range 22-36 weeks). Interviews occurred a median of 7 months postpartum (range 2-34 months). Themes emerged related to negative birth experiences and communication: (1) communication gaps during urgent or emergent intrapartum procedures contributed to negative birth experiences; (2) postpartum opportunities to share birth experiences, particularly with peers, sometimes mitigated the psychological consequences of negative birth experiences; (3) participants did not consistently discuss concerns about future pregnancy risk related to negative birth experiences with clinical teams. CONCLUSIONS: Themes from this sample of Black birthing people who experienced preterm birth suggest 3 ways health systems might intervene to improve communication to mitigate the consequences of negative birth experiences. Improvement efforts in these areas may improve postpartum health, future pregnancy outcomes, and long-term health.

Placental Malaria.

Purpose of Review: Placental malaria is the primary mechanism through which malaria in pregnancy causes adverse perinatal outcomes. This review summarizes recent work on the significance, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prevention of placental malaria. Recent Findings: Placental malaria, characterized by the accumulation of Plasmodium-infected red blood cells in the placental intervillous space, leads to adverse perinatal outcomes such as stillbirth, low birth weight, preterm birth, and small-for-gestational-age neonates. Placental inflammatory responses may be primary drivers of these complications. Associated factors contributing to adverse outcomes include maternal gravidity, timing of perinatal infection, and parasite burden. Summary: Placental malaria is an important cause of adverse birth outcomes in endemic regions. The main strategy to combat this is intermittent preventative treatment in pregnancy; however, increasing drug resistance threatens the efficacy of this approach. There are studies dissecting the inflammatory response to placental malaria, alternative preventative treatments, and in developing a vaccine for placental malaria.

Generation of a malaria negative Ugandan birth weight standard for the diagnosis of small for gestational age.

OBJECTIVE: Placental malaria is a known risk factor for small for gestational age (SGA) neonates. However, currently utilized international and African birthweight standards have not controlled for placental malaria and/or lack obstetrical ultrasound dating. We developed a neonatal birthweight standard based on obstetrically dated pregnancies that excluded individuals with clinical malaria, asymptomatic parasitemia, and placental malaria infection. We hypothesized that current curves underestimate true ideal birthweight and the prevalence of SGA. STUDY DESIGN: Participants were pooled from two double-blind randomized control trials of intermittent preventive therapy during pregnancy in Uganda. HIV-negative women without comorbidities were enrolled from 12-20 weeks gestation. Gestational age was confirmed by ultrasound dating. Women were followed through pregnancy and delivery for clinical malaria, asymptomatic parasitemia, and placental malaria. Women without malaria, asymptomatic parasitemia, or placental malaria formed the malaria negative cohort and generated the Ugandan birthweight standard. The Ugandan standard was then used to estimate the prevalence of SGA neonates in the malaria positive cohort. These findings were compared to international (Williams, World Health Organization (WHO), and INTERGROWTH-21st) and regional standards (Tanzanian and Malawi). RESULTS: 926 women had complete delivery data; 393 (42.4%) met criteria for the malaria negative cohort and 533 (57.6%) were malaria positive. The Ugandan standard diagnosed SGA in 17.1% of malaria positive neonates; similar to the INTERGROWTH-21st and Schmiegelow curves. The WHO curve diagnosed SGA in significantly more neonates (32.1%, p = <0.001), and the Malawi curve diagnosed SGA in significantly fewer neonates (8.3%, p <0.001). CONCLUSION: Exclusion of women with subclinical placental malaria in malaria-endemic areas created birth weight norms at higher values and increased the detection of SGA. Birth weight standards that fail to account for endemic illness may underestimate the true growth potential of healthy neonates.

Malaria in Pregnancy: What the Obstetric Provider in Nonendemic Areas Needs to Know.

IMPORTANCE: Globally, more than 125 million women each year are at risk of malaria during pregnancy. Endemic regions carry the greatest burden; however, with globalization, providers in nonendemic regions are encountering increasing numbers of women exposed to or infected with malaria. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this article is to provide obstetric providers in nonendemic areas with updated information on malaria infection in pregnancy focusing on pregnancy management and malaria prevention and treatment. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: This article is based on review of the most recent peer-reviewed articles and guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. FINDINGS: Malaria infection in pregnancy causes maternal anemia, low birth weight, preterm birth, stillbirth, and miscarriages through placental malaria and severe infections. Pregnant women traveling to malaria-endemic areas should be advised against travel. If travel must occur, they should be provided with region-specific chemoprophylaxis and given methods for preventing infection. In the event that a pregnant patient has an acute malarial infection, prompt evaluation is needed to determine whether there are severe features. Medications for uncomplicated or severe malaria infection should be started as soon as the diagnosis is made. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Malaria in pregnancy causes significant perinatal complications. Obstetric providers should be aware of the impact and how to prevent and treat malaria infection during pregnancy. Malaria infection should be suspected in women with concerning symptoms and recent travel to endemic areas. Providers should know the management of uncomplicated and severe malarial infection in pregnancy.