Effects of Tuberculosis Infection on Development and Function of the Placenta

The goal of this observational study is to understand how tuberculosis (TB) infection impacts the function and development of the placenta, and whether TB infection can contribute to pregnancy-related disorders through effects on the placenta.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does TB infection affect the structure of the placenta? * Does TB infection affect the function of the placenta?

Pregnant women attending delivery clinics in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, will be enrolled and classified for TB infection using a blood-based test. We will compare the following outcomes between women with TB infection and women without TB infection:

* Pathological lesions of the placenta * Gene and protein expression patterns linked to pregnancy-related disorders * Infant outcome at birth and at 6 weeks after birth