Placental malaria: a systematic review and meta-analysis of global burden, risk factors, and maternal and foetal outcomes

Our meta-analysis reveals a high PM burden in high- malaria transmission areas, especially among primigravidae and HIV-positive women. We note that PM remains high in SSA, with regional variation, with one in four pregnant women diagnosed by histological examination of the placenta, reflecting both current and past PM exposure. Reliance on non-histological methods may lead to underestimation of true PM prevalence. Due to wide confidence intervals and limited data, we could draw no conclusions on the impact of PM on maternal and foetal outcomes. Residual high heterogeneity reflects real-world diversity across populations, strengthening the generalisability of our findings.