Responses to comments by Ishag Adam and Mustafa Idriss El Bechir on our paper “Risk factors for malaria infection and anemia for pregnant women in the Sahel area of Bandiagara, Mali” published in Acta Tropica 89 (1) 17–23

Abstract

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to reply to the comments by Ishag Adam and Mustafa Idriss El Bechir on our paper “Risk factors for malaria infection and anemia for pregnant women in the Sahel area of Bandiagara Mali” published in Acta Tropica 89 17–23. We agree that additional tests (HCG ultrasonography) would have added to the precision in the diagnosis of a pregnancy. While kits for urine or blood HCG test may well be in use “in any corner of the globe” this would not help in determining gestational age. Ultrasongraphy is unfortunately not available even today in most health centers in sub- Saharan African countries. Since the studies were cross-sectional surveys in which study participants were selected from a random list of households a selection bias as described by Adam and El Bashir is most unlikely. (excerpt)