Abstract:
This is a descriptive study, conducted in National health laboratory and
Sudan University of Science and Technology, during the period from
November 2009 to October 2010. The study aimed to detect the malaria
parasite in placenta specimen by using histological technique among
women live in endemic area and to verify the association between
placenta malaria & low birth weight. One hundred placenta specimen
were collected from women (their ages ranged between 17 to 39 years) .
The selected group women live in malaria endemic area. The placenta
section were prepared, fixed and stained using Giemsa , Haematoxylin
and Eosin staining technique then examined under the light microscope.
The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS computer program. The
histological assessment among study population revealed the following
findings; Placental histology showed active malaria infections (parasites
present with absent pigment deposition ) in 2% and chronic infections
(parasites present with amount of pigment ) in 2% women; 28% of the
placentas revealed past infection (presence of pigment without parasites)
and 68% indicated no infection. Although plasmodium is was present in 32% of placenta tissue parasite have been found only in 10% in the
peripheral blood that means placental histopathology is more sensitive
than blood film. Also the study showed no significant association
between placental malaria infections and maternal age and education
level. 99% of these pregnancy outcomes resulted in low birth-weight
babies. There was significant association between placental malaria and
low birth weight (P = 0.000). In the other hand the study found the
malarial effect occurred the throughout gestational 35 -39 weeks
