Factors associated with the failure of intermittent preventive treatment for malaria among pregnant women in Yaounde

Introduction: Intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) is recommended for malaria prevention during pregnancy. We investigated factors associated with the failure of this strategy. Methods: We conducted a case-control study in two health care facilities in Yaounde, from 1 May 2014 to 30 April 2015. Pregnant women treated with IPTp-SP, hospitalized for malaria and having a positive Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) result (case-subjects) were compared to pregnant women treated with IPTp-SP having a negative RDT result (control-subjects). Epi Info 7 software and SPSS 18.0 software were used with P? 0.05 as significance threshold. Results: We recruited 234 subjects, 109 (46.6%) case-subjects and 125 control-subjects (53.4%). The associated factors found were: prematurity (P=0.03; OR=1.15; IC= 0.32 – 4.10), the non-use of LLIN (P=0.006; OR= 2.31; IC= 1.26 – 4.25), a history of hospitalization for malaria (P=0.007; OR= 2.19; IC= 1.23 – 3.89), IPTp-SP administration after 28 gestational weeks (P=0.001, OR= 3.55; IC= 1.7 – 7.61). After logistic regression, prematurity (P=0.024; OR=2.01; IC=1.1-3.7) and a history of hospitalization for malaria (P=0.001; OR=2.83; IC=1.50-5.4) remained associated with IPTp-SP failure. Conclusion: A history of hospitalization for malaria and prematurity are independent predictor of IPTp-SP failure.