Browsing by Author "Leuba, Sequoia I."

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    Predictors of Plasmodium falciparum Infection in the First Trimester Among Nulliparous Women From Kenya, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
    (Oxford University Press, 2022) Leuba, Sequoia I.; Westreich, Daniel; Bose, Carl L.; Powers, Kimberly A.; Olshan, Andy; Taylor, Steve M.; Tshefu, Antoinette; Lokangaka, Adrien; Carlo, Waldemar A.; Chomba, Elwyn; Liechty, Edward A.; Bucher, Sherri L.; Esamai, Fabian; Jessani, Saleem; Saleem, Sarah; Goldenberg, Robert L.; Moore, Janet; Nolen, Tracy; Hemingway-Foday, Jennifer; McClure, Elizabeth M.; Koso-Thomas, Marion; Derman, Richard J.; Hoffman, Matthew; Bauserman, Melissa; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Background: Malaria can have deleterious effects early in pregnancy, during placentation. However, malaria testing and treatment are rarely initiated until the second trimester, leaving pregnancies unprotected in the first trimester. To inform potential early intervention approaches, we sought to identify clinical and demographic predictors of first-trimester malaria. Methods: We prospectively recruited women from sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya, and Zambia who participated in the ASPIRIN (Aspirin Supplementation for Pregnancy Indicated risk Reduction In Nulliparas) trial. Nulliparous women were tested for first-trimester Plasmodium falciparum infection by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We evaluated predictors using descriptive statistics. Results: First-trimester malaria prevalence among 1513 nulliparous pregnant women was 6.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.7%-8.8%] in the Zambian site, 37.8% (95% CI, 34.2%-41.5%) in the Kenyan site, and 62.9% (95% CI, 58.6%-67.2%) in the DRC site. First-trimester malaria was associated with shorter height and younger age in Kenyan women in site-stratified analyses, and with lower educational attainment in analyses combining all 3 sites. No other predictors were identified. Conclusions: First-trimester malaria prevalence varied by study site in sub-Saharan Africa. The absence of consistent predictors suggests that routine parasite screening in early pregnancy may be needed to mitigate first-trimester malaria in high-prevalence settings.
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    The efficacy of low-dose aspirin in pregnancy among women in malaria-endemic countries
    (Springer, 2022-04-10) Bauserman, Melissa; Leuba, Sequoia I.; Hemingway-Foday, Jennifer; Nolen, Tracy L.; Moore, Janet; McClure, Elizabeth M.; Lokangaka, Adrien; Tsehfu, Antoinette; Patterson, Jackie; Liechty, Edward A.; Esamai, Fabian; Carlo, Waldemar A.; Chomba, Elwyn; Goldenberg, Robert L.; Saleem, Sarah; Jessani, Saleem; Koso-Thomas, Marion; Hoffman, Matthew; Derman, Richard J.; Meshnick, Steven R.; Bose, Carl L.; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Background Low dose aspirin (LDA) is an effective strategy to reduce preterm birth. However, LDA might have differential effects globally, based on the etiology of preterm birth. In some regions, malaria in pregnancy could be an important modifier of LDA on birth outcomes and anemia. Methods This is a sub-study of the ASPIRIN trial, a multi-national, randomized, placebo controlled trial evaluating LDA effect on preterm birth. We enrolled a convenience sample of women in the ASPIRIN trial from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya and Zambia. We used quantitative polymerase chain reaction to detect malaria. We calculated crude prevalence proportion ratios (PRs) for LDA by malaria for outcomes, and regression modelling to evaluate effect measure modification. We evaluated hemoglobin in late pregnancy based on malaria infection in early pregnancy. Results One thousand four hundred forty-six women were analyzed, with a malaria prevalence of 63% in the DRC site, 38% in the Kenya site, and 6% in the Zambia site. Preterm birth occurred in 83 (LDA) and 90 (placebo) women, (PR 0.92, 95% CI 0.70, 1.22), without interaction between LDA and malaria (p = 0.75). Perinatal mortality occurred in 41 (LDA) and 43 (placebo) pregnancies, (PR 0.95, 95% CI 0.63, 1.44), with an interaction between malaria and LDA (p = 0.014). Hemoglobin was similar by malaria and LDA status. Conclusions Malaria in early pregnancy did not modify the effects of LDA on preterm birth, but modified the effect of LDA on perinatal mortality. This effect measure modification deserves continued study as LDA is used in malaria endemic regions.