Pregnancy-associated malaria

Pregnancy-associated malaria (PAM) or placental malaria is a presentation of malaria in pregnancy which is life-threatening to both pregnant women and unborn fetuses. PAM occurs when a pregnant woman contracts malaria, generally as a result of Plasmodium falciparum infection, and because she is pregnant, is at greater risk of associated complications such as placental malaria. Placental malaria interferes with the transmission of vital substances through the fetal placenta, which can result in stillbirths, miscarriages, and dangerously low birth weights.

Prevention and treatment of malaria are essential components of prenatal care in tropical and subtropical geographic areas affected by malaria, and thus has received much international attention.

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