Edward L.A. Senga BSc, MSc
Name: Edward L.A. Senga BSc, MSc
Hospital, Institution: Montfort Mission Hospital Chikhwawa District, Malawi
Planned completion year: 2011
Name of project: Genetic polymorphisms, biochemical and hematological correlates of malaria in pregnancy
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Reduction of serious consequences of malaria infection
Reduction of serious consequences of malaria infection in pregnancy for both mother and child
Malaria infection in pregnancy is a major public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions world-wide. This study addresses the relationship between haematological and biochemical parameters such as iron deficiency and genetic polymorphisms such as ABO blood group phenotyes [already published: Senga et al (2007) http://www.malariajournal.com/content/6/1/102], glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD), methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency (MTHFR) and Sickle cell gene, all of which have adverse outcomes commonly associated with malaria in pregnancy.
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Improve treatment
Improved treatments of iron deficiency in pregnant women should potentially solve adverse outcomes associated with malaria in pregnancy. Initially there will be need to evaluate the current policy in Malawi accepted by WHO for administration of iron supplements to pregnant women concerning (i) the period of administration and (ii) who should receive the supplement between the malaria infected and the non- malaria infected pregnant women.
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Policy
The next course of action will be to develop and evaluate a new iron supplementation policy paralleled with malaria control program on a small scale and if successful submitted to WHO for a large scale implementation.
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Financial support
This study was supported by the European Union INCO-DEV programme (contract IC$-CT-2002-10022).
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