Host and Parasite Factors Influencing Malaria Infection and Disease During Pregnancy and Early Childhood in Ouelessebougou and Bamako, Mali

What this Trial Is About

Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum remains a major global health issue with serious consequences. This research aims to better understand the immune and parasite factors related to infection and disease during pregnancy and early childhood. The study focuses on how pregnancy malaria affects birth outcomes like low birth weight and maternal anemia, and explores how childhood malaria risk may be influenced by exposure before birth and other factors such as iron levels and immune responses. Researchers also investigate whether parasites causing severe childhood malaria have unique characteristics. The study enrolls up to 2000 pregnant women and their newborns, and 2000 children aged 0 to 3 years, who will be followed until age 5. Additionally, 3000 febrile children up to age 10 are recruited from health centers and hospitals for acute and recovery assessments. A separate case-control study includes 500 pregnant women to explore malaria and preeclampsia. Up to 1000 children from the initial birth cohort may be followed for up to 10 years into adolescence and early adulthood. Participants undergo clinical exams and provide periodic blood samples over these periods. Participants will be monitored through clinical evaluations and blood sample collections to analyze parasite presence, immune responses, and host factors. The main outcome is to identify maternal, placental, parasite, and host factors linked to resistance or susceptibility to malaria infection and disease in children up to 5 years old. The study uses careful statistical analysis to understand these associations. Participation may last from birth up to 10 years, with ongoing assessments to track health and malaria outcomes.

Host and Parasite Factors That Influence Susceptibility to Malaria Infection and Disease During Pregnancy and Early Childhood in Ouelessebougou and Bamako, Mali