Intermittent Preventative Treatment With Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine in Gambian Multigravidae
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2004-09-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Malaria is particularly harmful during pregnancy causing anemia in the mother and low birth
weight which, in turn, increases infant mortality. Thus, the World Health Organization (WHO)
now recommends that all pregnant women who live in malaria endemic areas of Africa should
receive sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) at monthly intervals during the second and third
trimesters of pregnancy. Malaria is especially severe during first pregnancies and the value
of intermittent preventative treatment with SP during first pregnancies has been clearly
shown. However, it is less certain whether multigravidae, who are at less risk, also benefit
from intermittent preventative treatment with SP. To investigate this, a trial has been
conducted in Gambian multigravidae who were given intermittent preventative treatment with SP
or placebo during the second and third trimesters. The prevalence of anemia six weeks after
delivery, low birth weight and poor outcome of pregnancy in women in each group were studied.
Phase:
Phase 3
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Gates Malaria Partnership London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Collaborators:
Department of State for Health and Social Welfare, The Gambia London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia
Treatments:
Fanasil, pyrimethamine drug combination Pyrimethamine Sulfadoxine