Placental pathology and maternal risk factors as predictors of adverse neonatal outcomes in…

Cohort studySAGE open medicine· 2026

Placental pathology and maternal risk factors as predictors of adverse neonatal outcomes in small-for-gestational-age births: A prospective cohort study in Northern Uganda.

Ahmed Ali Fahma, Marie Pascaline Sabine Ishimwe, Musa Kasujja … Theoneste Hakizimana

Pediatric PathologyCohort studyQ2IF 2.4

Placental abnormalities more than double the risk of adverse outcomes in small-for-gestational-age babies

Placental pathology and maternal risk factors as predictors of adverse neonatal outcomes in small-for-gestational-age births: A prospective cohort study in Northern Uganda.

Ahmed Ali Fahma … Theoneste Hakizimana

SAGE open medicine · 2026 · Q2 in General Medicine

Background

Births that are small-for-gestational-age (small-for-gestational-age) represent a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Purpose

This study aimed to determine the incidence of adverse neonatal outcomes in small-for-gestational-age births and to identify associated placental and maternal predictors in northern Uganda.

Methods

A total of 151 women delivering singleton small-for-gestational-age infants were enrolled.

n = 151 women

Results

placental abnormalities more than double the risk of adverse outcomes in small-for-gestational-age babies

RR 2.23 (95% CI 1.45 to 3.43)

null 1

1.45

3.43

CI excludes the null - significant

More results

The incidence of adverse neonatal outcomes was 48.3% (95% CI: 40.4-56.4).

Placental abnormalities were identified in 47.7% of cases, with inflammatory lesions (8.6%), vascular lesions (7.9%), and villous infarctions (6.0%) being the most prevalent findings.

More results

Maternal obesity (Body Mass Index ≥30 kg/m 2 ; aRR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.06-2.46; p = 0.027) and higher maternal income (>200,000 Ugandan Shillings; aRR = 1.66; 95% CI: 1.03-2.69; p = 0.037) were also significantly associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes.

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

Nearly half of small-for-gestational-age neonates in this northern Ugandan cohort experienced an adverse neonatal outcome.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Placental abnormalities were common and were associated with adverse outcomes, and maternal obesity was identified as a potentially modifiable risk factor.

Placental pathology and maternal risk factors as predictors of adverse neonatal outcomes in small-for-gestational-age births: A prospective cohort study in Northern Uganda.

Placental pathology and maternal risk factors as predictors of adverse neonatal outcomes in small-for-gestational-age births: A prospective cohort study in Northern Uganda.

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