Intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) in prevention of malaria and anemia in pregnancy

Intermittent preventive treatment with sulphadoxine-pyrimethane (IPTp-SP) is currently the recommended regimen for prevention of malaria in pregnancy in endemic areas. However, the effectiveness of this approach in preventing malaria and anemia in pregnant women is unclear. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of IPTp-SP in preventing malaria and anemia among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic (ANC) at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Accra, Ghana. A cross-sectional study comparing malaria and anemia incidence among pregnant women using IPTp-SP with those not using IPTp was conducted. 363 pregnant women were recruited of which 202 were using IPTp and 161 were IPTp non-users. Malaria parasites and hemoglobin levels (Hb < 11g/dl) were determined. Thirty-one (15.3%) women using IPTp had malaria compared to 72 (44.7%) of women who did not use IPTp (protective efficacy 74%, p < 0.001). The number of anemic women not utilizing IPTp was significantly higher (58.4%, 94/161) than women using IPTp (22.8%, 46/202), p < 0.001 (protective efficacy 81%, p < 0.001). Controlling for age and other variables, the difference in the incidence of malaria (odds ratio = 0.26, 95% confidence interval = 0.15 – 0.44, p < 0.001) and anemia (odds ratio = 0.19, 95% confidence interval = 0.11 – 0.34, p < 0.001) remained significant. The IPTp-SP regime is effective in preventing malaria and anemia among pregnant women visiting ANC at KBTH. The implementation of the IPTp-SP strategy holds great promise for reducing the burden of malaria and anemia in pregnancy in Ghana.