Clinical characteristics of cohort 2 at enrolment and delivery.

Note: all characteristics are expressed as media (IQR), or as frequency. The distribution of parasitemia was normalized by log transformation for subsequent analysis. Species diagnosis and parasitemia were determined by light microscopy, and placental malaria was defined as any malarial pigment found in fibrin deposits, infected red blood cells, or pigmented monocyte by histology on Giemsa stained placental sections. Anti-malarials use included sulphadoxine pyrimethamine, artemether, or chloroquine within the last two weeks. Malarial symptoms were reported within the last 2 days and included history of or current fever, pallor, chills and rigors, or body ache. Gestational age of cohort 2 was determined by ultrasound. Gestational age at delivery was estimated using the Ballard scoring method. Delivery outcomes were available for all participants, except one uninfected and one P. vivax infected woman. Placental histology was not available (NA) for any P. vivax enrolment cases, but was available for ten and nine deliveries that were uninfected and P. falciparum infected respectively at the time of enrolment.