Effectiveness of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy with Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine against Submicroscopic falciparum Malaria in Central Region, Ghana

Malaria infections undetectable by microscopy but detectable by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) (submicroscopic malaria) are common in endemic areas like Ghana. Submicroscopic malaria has been linked with severe pregnancy outcomes as well as contributing to malaria transmission. In this cross-sectio...

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Main Authors: Ekene K. Nwaefuna, Richmond Afoakwah, Verner N. Orish, Alexander Egyir-Yawson, Johnson N. Boampong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:Journal of Parasitology Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/959427
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author Ekene K. Nwaefuna
Richmond Afoakwah
Verner N. Orish
Alexander Egyir-Yawson
Johnson N. Boampong
author_facet Ekene K. Nwaefuna
Richmond Afoakwah
Verner N. Orish
Alexander Egyir-Yawson
Johnson N. Boampong
author_sort Ekene K. Nwaefuna
collection DOAJ
description Malaria infections undetectable by microscopy but detectable by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) (submicroscopic malaria) are common in endemic areas like Ghana. Submicroscopic malaria has been linked with severe pregnancy outcomes as well as contributing to malaria transmission. In this cross-sectional study 872 consenting pregnant women (gestation ≥ 20 weeks) were recruited from 8 hospitals in Central Region, Ghana, between July and December 2009. Malaria infection was detected by microscopy and PCR. Haemoglobin was measured and anaemia was defined as haemoglobin lower than 11 g/dL. Majority of the women, 555 (63.6%), were Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy with Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) users while 234 (36.4%) were nonusers. The prevalence of malaria by microscopy was 20.9% (182/872) and 9.7% (67/688) of microscopy negative women had submicroscopic malaria. IPTp-SP usage significantly (odds ratio = 0.13, 95% confidence interval = 0.07–0.23, p=0.005) reduced the prevalence of submicroscopic malaria as more nonusers (51/234) than users (16/454) were PCR positive. After controlling for other variables the effect of IPTp-SP remained statistically significant (odds ratio = 0.11, 95% confidence interval = 0.02–0.22, p=0.006). These results suggest that Intermittent Preventive Treatment with Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine is useful in the reduction of submicroscopic malaria in pregnancy.
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spelling doaj-art-709fcc832408413e8529bc4bbf8f42cd2025-08-20T03:34:01ZengWileyJournal of Parasitology Research2090-00232090-00312015-01-01201510.1155/2015/959427959427Effectiveness of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy with Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine against Submicroscopic falciparum Malaria in Central Region, GhanaEkene K. Nwaefuna0Richmond Afoakwah1Verner N. Orish2Alexander Egyir-Yawson3Johnson N. Boampong4Vector Genetics Laboratory, Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Biomedical and Forensic Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, GhanaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital Sekondi-Takoradi, Sekondi, Western Region, GhanaVector Genetics Laboratory, Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Biomedical and Forensic Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, GhanaMalaria infections undetectable by microscopy but detectable by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) (submicroscopic malaria) are common in endemic areas like Ghana. Submicroscopic malaria has been linked with severe pregnancy outcomes as well as contributing to malaria transmission. In this cross-sectional study 872 consenting pregnant women (gestation ≥ 20 weeks) were recruited from 8 hospitals in Central Region, Ghana, between July and December 2009. Malaria infection was detected by microscopy and PCR. Haemoglobin was measured and anaemia was defined as haemoglobin lower than 11 g/dL. Majority of the women, 555 (63.6%), were Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy with Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) users while 234 (36.4%) were nonusers. The prevalence of malaria by microscopy was 20.9% (182/872) and 9.7% (67/688) of microscopy negative women had submicroscopic malaria. IPTp-SP usage significantly (odds ratio = 0.13, 95% confidence interval = 0.07–0.23, p=0.005) reduced the prevalence of submicroscopic malaria as more nonusers (51/234) than users (16/454) were PCR positive. After controlling for other variables the effect of IPTp-SP remained statistically significant (odds ratio = 0.11, 95% confidence interval = 0.02–0.22, p=0.006). These results suggest that Intermittent Preventive Treatment with Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine is useful in the reduction of submicroscopic malaria in pregnancy.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/959427
spellingShingle Ekene K. Nwaefuna
Richmond Afoakwah
Verner N. Orish
Alexander Egyir-Yawson
Johnson N. Boampong
Effectiveness of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy with Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine against Submicroscopic falciparum Malaria in Central Region, Ghana
Journal of Parasitology Research
title Effectiveness of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy with Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine against Submicroscopic falciparum Malaria in Central Region, Ghana
title_full Effectiveness of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy with Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine against Submicroscopic falciparum Malaria in Central Region, Ghana
title_fullStr Effectiveness of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy with Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine against Submicroscopic falciparum Malaria in Central Region, Ghana
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy with Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine against Submicroscopic falciparum Malaria in Central Region, Ghana
title_short Effectiveness of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy with Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine against Submicroscopic falciparum Malaria in Central Region, Ghana
title_sort effectiveness of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy with sulphadoxine pyrimethamine against submicroscopic falciparum malaria in central region ghana
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/959427
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