Placenta gross examination and cord insertion in women with malaria in pregnancy

Background: Malaria in pregnancy is a common condition endemic to the coastal and lake regions in sub-Saharan Africa. The condition may contribute to abnormal placental development. This study aimed to determine how malaria in pregnancy alters the placental morphology and cord insertion.Materials and methods: This study followed an analytical cross-sectional design. The placenta from 58 mothers who have had malaria in pregnancy and 58 without a history of malaria in pregnancy were collected. The birth weights and placental weights were measured. The tissues were macroscopically examined for morphological features and the type of placental cord insertion. These were recorded and entered into SPSS for data analysis. Descriptive statistics, graphs and charts were obtained, and inferential statistics were carried out using the independent sample t-test and chi-square tests. A Pvalue of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The mean placental weights observed were 478.27g ± 40.95 among the cases and 511.55g ± 35.58 among the controls, with the odds of having low placental weight significantly greater for those with malaria than those without P=0.001, OR=4.424. There was a significant difference in the proportion of abnormal cord insertions between women with malaria in pregnancy and those without(p<0.05). Areas of white infarct and meconium staining were noted in some of the placenta of the women with malaria in pregnancy.Conclusion: Malaria in pregnancy alters placental morphology and cord insertion. This study gives more insight into understanding adverse pregnancy outcomes in women who have had malaria in pregnancy.