Malaria and pregnancy.

A review of current literature on the effects of malaria on pregnant women and the foetus is made and its effective control is discussed. The role of placenta as an exchange organ and as the first defence line for foetus is also described. Reduced resistance to malaria during pregnancy may be due to immunological and hormonal changes. In malarious areas, the effective control of malaria results in reduced maternal anaemia and in increased birth-weights. Prophylaxis, treatment and other antimalarial measures are more beneficial to the primiparous than multiparous women.