Gynecology & Obstetrics
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0932
ISSN: 2161-0932
Omole-Ohonsi A, Attah R, Umoru JU and Habib R
Background: Sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy (IPTp), is the malaria prophylaxis that is recommended in malaria endemic areas. Increasing reports of resistance to SP across the globe makes appraisal of its efficacy to be necessary in health facilities that use it.
Objective: To determine the efficacy of SP-IPTp in the prevention of malaria in pregnancy using Proguanil chemoprophylaxis as the gold standard, at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria.
Methods: In this prospective study, 300 primigravid women were enrolled and assigned by block randomization to SP-IPTp (cases) or proguanil chemo prophylaxis(control) group. Each group consisted of 150 women. Study variables of interest were Packed Cell Volume (PCV) at recruitment and at 34 weeks gestation, peripheral malaria parasitaemia, severe anaemia at 34 weeks gestation, and the frequency of clinical malaria during the study period in the two groups. The data obtained were recorded using tables. Students’t-test, Z-test and chi-square test were used to compare means and proportions respectively for statistically significant differences, setting the level of significance at P<0.05.
Results: There was statistically significant increase in the PCV between recruitment and at 34 weeks in each group (P<0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference in the PCV, peripheral malaria parasitaemia and frequency of clinical malaria between the two groups at 34 weeks gestation (P>0.05).
Conclusion: SP-IPTp has similar effectiveness as proguanil chemoprophlaxis. SP-IPTp is still effective in the prevention of malaria in pregnancy at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.