Skip to content
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Decline of placental malaria in southern Ghana after the implementation of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy
Malaria Journal, Volume 6, Article 144, Year 2007
Notification
URL copied to clipboard!
Description
Background. Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) has been adopted as policy by many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. However, data on the post-implementation effectiveness of this measure are scarce. Methods. Clinical and parasitological parameters were assessed among women delivering at a district hospital in rural southern Ghana in the year 2000 when pyrimethamine chemoprophylaxis was recommended (n = 839) and in 2006 (n = 226), approximately one year after the implementation of IPTp-SP. Examinations were performed in an identical manner in 2000 and 2006 including the detection of placental Plasmodium falciparum infection by microscopy, histidine-rich protein 2, and PCR. Results. In 2006, 77% of the women reported to have taken IPTp-SP at least once (26%, twice; 24%, thrice). In 2006 as compared to 2000, placental P. falciparum infection was reduced by 43-57% (P < 0.0001) and maternal anaemia by 33% (P = 0.0009), and median birth weight was 130 g higher (P = 0.02). In 2006, likewise, women who had taken ≥ 1 dose of IPTp-SP revealed less infection and anaemia and their children tended to have higher birth weights as compared to women who had not used IPTp-SP. However, placental P. falciparum infection was still observed in 11% (microscopy) to 26% (PCR) of those women who had taken three doses of IPTp-SP. Conclusion. In southern Ghana, placental malaria and maternal anaemia have declined substantially and birth weight has increased after the implementation of IPTp-SP. Likely, these effects can further be increased by improving IPTp-SP coverage and adherence. However, the remnant prevalence of infection in women having taken three doses of IPTp-SP suggests that additional antimalarial measures are needed to prevent malaria in pregnancy in this region. © 2007 Hommerich et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Hommerich, Lena
Unknown Affiliation
Von Oertzen, Christa
Unknown Affiliation
Bedu-Addo, George
Unknown Affiliation
Holmberg, Ville
Unknown Affiliation
Acquah, Patrick A.
Unknown Affiliation
Eggelte, Teunis A.
Unknown Affiliation
Bienzle, Ulrich
Unknown Affiliation
Mockenhaupt, Frank Peter
Unknown Affiliation
Statistics
Citations: 91
Authors: 8
Affiliations: 6
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1475-2875-6-144
e-ISSN:
14752875
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Infectious Diseases
Maternal And Child Health
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Locations
Ghana
Participants Gender
Female