Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPTc) and Home Based Management of Malaria (HMM)in The Gambia
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2009-08-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Malaria in African countries remains an important cause of mortality and morbidity among
young children. The global malaria control strategies include prompt treatment with an
effective antimalarial drug, vector control using ITNs or curtains, indoor residual spraying
(IRS), and intermittent preventive treatment. However, individually these interventions
provide only imperfect protection. Thus, there is a need to investigate whether additional
control measures provide added benefit in reducing mortality and morbidity. Therefore, 1312
children under 5 years of age living in villages and hamlets near Farafenni, The Gambia,
which form part of the rural Farafenni Demographic Surveillance system (FDSS) in North Bank
Region(NBR) were randomly allocated to receive IPTc or placebo from village health workers
based in primary health care villages. Treatment with a single dose of sulfadoxine
/pyrimethamine plus three doses of amodiaquine or placebo was given to all study subjects at
monthly intervals on three occasions during the months of September, October and November. In
addition, VHWs were trained to administer treatment with coartem to children if they develop
symptoms compatible with malaria during the malaria transmission season. The primary end
point was the incidence of clinical attacks of malaria detected during the study.
Phase:
Phase 3
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Gates Malaria Partnership London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine