A total of 152 malaria parasitaemic pregnant 
women of varying ages and gravidities, whose pregnancies 
had advanced up to the 6th months and above, were 
enrolled in the study. Seventy-six (76) each were 
randomised into supplemented and placebo groups. Venous 
blood was collected from each woman and examined for 
malaria parasitaemia, using standard parasitological 
techniques. Ten thousand international units of vitamin A 
was administered to the supplemented group once daily for 
three times per week. The placebo group also received 
vitamin A soft gels devoid of its active ingredients three 
times weekly. The regimen was continued as the women 
were followed up until delivery of their babies. Birth 
weights of the infants were determined with the use of 
weighing scales, within 72 hours post-delivery. Cross 
tabulations were used to calculate the percentages of low 
birth weights. The mean birth weights of the infants were 
analysed, using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Fisher’s 
least significance difference (FLSD), for mean separation. 
T-test was used to compare birth weight in supplemented 
group with those in the placebo group. Statistical 
significance was established at p< 0.05.  The multigravids dominated in the study. The primigravids 
had the least mean age while the multigravids had the 
highest. When the overall supplemented and placebo 
groups were compared the placebo groups had higher 
number of low birth weights that were statistically 
significant (p< 0.05) among the infants of the 8th month 
group women. The mean birth weights were generally 
statistically higher in the supplemented group than in the 
placebo group, except in a few cases with no significant 
differences. Vitamin A has proved to be efficacious in 
improving infant birth weights. Therefore, its 
supplementation to pregnant women at safe periods and 
dosages is advocated. 
Keywords: Vitamin A, Supplementation, Malaria, 
Pregnancy, Birthweight