title: Effectiveness of intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine during pregnancy on placental malaria, maternal anaemia and birthweight in areas with high and low malaria transmission intensity in Tanzania.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness of IPTp in two areas with different malaria transmission intensities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study recruiting pregnant women in two health facilities in areas with high and low malaria transmission intensities. A structured questionnaire was used for interview. Maternal clinic cards and medical logs were assessed to determine drug intake. Placental parasitaemia was screened using both light microscopy and real-time quantitative PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 350 pregnant women were recruited and screened for placental parasitaemia, 175 from each area. Prevalence of placental parasitaemia was 16.6% (CI 11.4-22.9) in the high transmission area and 2.3% (CI 0.6-5.7) in the low transmission area. Being primigravida and residing in a high transmission area were significant risk factors for placental malaria (OR 2.4; CI 1.1-5.0; P = 0.025) and (OR 9.4; CI 3.2-27.7; P < 0.001), respectively. IPTp was associated with a lower risk of placental malaria (OR 0.3; CI 0.1-1.0; P = 0.044); the effect was more pronounced in the high transmission area (OR 0.2; CI 0.06-0.7; P = 0.015) than in the low transmission area (OR 0.4; CI 0.04-4.5; P = 0.478). IPTp use was not associated with reduced risk of maternal anaemia or low birthweight, regardless of transmission intensity. The number needed to treat (NNT) was four (CI 2-6) women in the high transmission area and 33 (20-50) in the low transmission area to prevent one case of placental malaria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IPTp may have an effect on lowering the risk of placental malaria in areas of high transmission, but this effect did not translate into a benefit on risks of maternal anaemia or low birthweight. The NNT needs to be considered, and weighted against that of other protective measures, eventually targeting areas which are above a certain threshold of malaria transmission to maximise the benefit.
authors: Ifakara Health Institute, Rufiji HDSS, Rufiji, Tanzania; Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Tumaini University Makumira, Moshi, Tanzania.
authors: Dominic
authors: D
authors: Mosha
authors: Jaffu
authors: J
authors: Chilongola
authors: Rabi
authors: R
authors: Ndeserua
authors: Felista
authors: F
authors: Mwingira
authors: Blaise
authors: B
authors: Genton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001724:Birth Weight; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008288:Malaria / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum; D061366:Numbers Needed To Treat; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D010920:Placenta / Q000469:parasitology*; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011739:Pyrimethamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012306:Risk; D013413:Sulfadoxine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D004338:Drug Combinations; C001205:fanasil, pyrimethamine drug combination; D013413:Sulfadoxine; D011739:Pyrimethamine
keywords: Anemia; IPTp-SP; TPI-SP; anaemia; anémie; bajo peso al nacer; faible poids de naissance; low birthweight; malaria placentaria; paludisme placentaire; placental malaria