Relationship between placenta malaria and mother to child transmission of HIV infection in pregnant women in South East Nigeria.

Background: This study determined the rate of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV among HIV positive women with placenta malaria and factors associated with placenta malaria.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study of booked HIV positive pregnant women in labour. A smear for malaria parasite was made from blood taken from the placental tissue post-delivery.