Evaluation of intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy (IPTp) in Chókwè district, Southern Mozambique: coverage and effect on pregnancy and parasitological outcomes

Malaria during pregnancy is an important cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality, including an estimated 100,000 infant deaths worldwide each year, mostly due to malaria related low birth weight. The efforts for malaria control have focused on vector control, effective treatment and preventive treatment during pregnancy. In compliance with WHO recommendations, Mozambique introduced intermittent preventive treatment with Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) as standard of care for malaria control in pregnant women in 2006. However, the proportion of pregnant women who benefit from this program is still low and there is poor adherence to the adequate IPTp-SP regimen, particularly in rural communities. Careful investigations for better implementation of existing interventions and approaches targeting specifically the rural population are needed. On the other hand, the widespread use of SP has raised concerns on the increasing resistance of P. falciparum to SP as well as to the potential effect of SP to gametocytemia and thus increased malaria transmission. The aim of this project is to contribute to the efforts towards malaria control by assessing the coverage of IPTp-SP and its effect on malaria outcomes, SPresistance and malaria transmission in Chókwé district, a rural and malaria endemic area located in Gaza Province, Southern Mozambique. Study overall Objective: To assess the coverage of IPTp and the factors influencing it in Chókwè area, Mozambique, as well as its effect on clinical malaria and parasitological outcomes.

Trefwoorden:B780-tropische-geneeskunde