Maternal sickle cell trait is not a cause of low birthweight in Nigerian neonates.

As a result of reports of reduced birthweight in neonates of mothers with hemoglobin AS (Hb-AS) in other populations, we compared birthweights in 57 Hb-AS primigravidas in Nigeria with 60 controls who were sickle negative. There was no statistically significant difference in mean birthweight or placental weight between the groups. This finding may be due to development of resistance against malaria infection by Hb-AS women in this population.