By Human Immunodeficiency Virus‑positive Women, Nigeria, Placental Malaria
Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‑infected pregnant women have alterations in cellular and humoral
immunity that increase the risks to placental malaria infection.
Aim: This study aimed at determining the prevalence and predictors of placental malaria among HIV‑positive women
in Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: It was a longitudinal cohort study of pregnant women receiving antenatal care at a tertiary
hospital in Nigeria. Peripheral blood sample for packed cell volume estimation and placental blood sample for malaria
parasite estimation were collected from each participant at a presentation in labor and upon delivery, respectively.
Results: The Prevalence of placenta malaria (68.6%) and anemia (66.7%) in HIV‑positive women were significantly
higher than the prevalence of placental malaria (35.3%) and anemia (44.1%) in HIV‑negative control (P < 0.001 and
P = 0.001 respectively). The employment status was the only sociodemographic factor significantly associated with the
development of placental malaria in HIV‑positive women (odds ratio: 21.60; 95% confidence interval: 7.1–66.2; P < 0.001).
Conclusion: The prevalence of placental malaria is very high among HIV‑positive women in Nigeria. Scaling up free
distribution of insecticide treated nets in the short term and employment opportunities of HIV‑positive women, in the
long run, may reduce the prevalence of placental malaria in our population.