Intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine against malaria and anemia in pregnant women

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2011 Jul;85(1):12-21. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.10-0512.

Abstract

The effectiveness of intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) against malaria and anemia is unclear because of the spread of SP-resistant Plasmodium falciparum. This study evaluates the effectiveness of IPTp-SP among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana. A cross-sectional study comparing malaria and anemia prevalence among pregnant women using IPTp-SP with non-IPTp-SP users was conducted during June-August 2009. A total of 363 pregnant women (202 of IPTp users and 161 non-IPTp users) were recruited. A total of 15.3% of IPTp users had malaria compared with 44.7% of non-IPTp users (P < 0.001). A total of 58.4% of non-IPTp users were anemic compared with 22.8% of IPTp users (P < 0.001). When we controlled for other variables, the difference in the prevalence of malaria (odds ratio = 0.18, 95% confidence interval = 0.08-0.37) and anemia (odds ratio = 0.20, 95% confidence interval = 0.12-0.34) remained significant. The recommended IPTp-SP regimen is useful in preventing malaria and anemia among pregnant women in Ghana.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anemia / complications
  • Anemia / prevention & control*
  • Antimalarials / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Combinations
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Malaria / complications
  • Malaria / prevention & control*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / prevention & control*
  • Pyrimethamine / therapeutic use*
  • Sulfadoxine / therapeutic use*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Drug Combinations
  • fanasil, pyrimethamine drug combination
  • Sulfadoxine
  • Pyrimethamine