scholarly journals Persistence ofPlasmodium falciparumParasites in Infected Pregnant Mozambican Women after Delivery

2010 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 298-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Serra-Casas ◽  
Clara Menéndez ◽  
Carlota Dobaño ◽  
Azucena Bardají ◽  
Llorençc Quintó ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTPregnant women are susceptible toPlasmodium falciparumparasites that sequester in the placenta. The massive accumulation of infected erythrocytes in the placenta has been suggested to trigger the deleterious effects of malaria in pregnant women and their offspring. The risk of malaria is also high during the postpartum period, although mechanisms underlying this susceptibility are not known. Here, we aimed to identify host factors contributing to the risk of postpartum infections and to determine the origin of postpartum parasites by comparing their genotypes with those present at the time of delivery. To address this, blood samples were collected at delivery (n= 402) and postpartum (n= 354) from Mozambican women enrolled in a trial of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp).P. falciparumwas detected by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR), and the parasite merozoite surface protein 1 (msp-1) andmsp-2genes were genotyped. Fifty-seven out of 354 (16%) women were infected postpartum as assessed by qPCR, whereas prevalence by optical microscopy was only 4%. Risk of postpartum infection was lower in older women (odds ratio [OR] = 0.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.15 to 0.81) and higher in women with a placental infection at delivery (OR = 4.20, 95% CI = 2.19 to 8.08). Among 24 women with matched infections, 12 (50%) were infected postpartum with at least one parasite strain that was also present in their placentas. These results suggest that parasites infecting pregnant women persist after delivery and increase the risk of malaria during the postpartum period. Interventions that reduce malaria during pregnancy may translate into a lower risk of postpartum infection.

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danny F. Yeboah ◽  
Richmond Afoakwah ◽  
Ekene K. Nwaefuna ◽  
Orish Verner ◽  
Johnson N. Boampong

The use of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) as an intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) against malaria during pregnancy has become a policy in most sub-Sahara African countries and crucially depends on the efficacy of SP. This study sets out to evaluate the effectiveness of the SP given to the pregnant women in some selected health facilities in the Central Region of Ghana to prevent maternal malaria in pregnant women. A total of 543 pregnant women recruited from 7 selected health centres in Central Region of Ghana participated in the study. Parasite density ofPlasmodium falciparumwas determined from peripheral blood of the pregnant women using microscopy. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and dissolution tester were used to determine the quality of the SP. Malaria infection was recorded in 11.2% of pregnant women who had a history of SP consumption. SP failed the dissolution test. Pregnant women who did not receive IPT-SP were 44%. Low haemoglobin level was recorded in 73.5% of the pregnant women. The results indicated that SP was substandard. IPT-SP is ineffective in preventing malaria infection.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mdetele B. Ayubu ◽  
Winifrida B. Kidima

Intermittent preventive treatment using SP (IPTp-SP) is still a superior interventional approach to control malaria during pregnancy. However its rate of use has gone down tremendously in malaria endemic areas. This study forms part of a larger study aimed at monitoring the compliance of IPTp-SP policy in malaria endemic areas of Tanzania. Two cross-sectional studies were conducted in Dar es Salaam and Njombe Regions of Tanzania. Overall, 540 pregnant women and 21 healthcare workers were interviewed using structured questionnaires. This study revealed that 63% of women were not willing to take SP during pregnancy while 91% would only take it if they tested positive for malaria during antennal visits. 63% of the interviewed women did not know the recommended dose of SP required during pregnancy, despite the fact that 82% of the women were aware of the adverse effect of malaria during pregnancy. It was found out that 54% of pregnant women (30–40 weeks) took single dose, 34% took two doses, and 16% did not take SP at the time of interview. It was also found that SP was not administered under direct observed therapy in 86% of women. There was no significant relationship between number of doses received by pregnant women and antenatal clinic (ANC) start date (r2 = 0.0033, 95% CI (−0.016 to 0.034)). However positive correlation between drug uptake and drug availability was revealed (p=0.0001). Knowledge on adverse effects of placental malaria among pregnant women was significantly associated with drug uptake (OR 11.81, 95% CI (5.755–24.23), p=0.0001). We conclude that unavailability of drugs in ANC is the major reason hindering the implementation of IPTp-SP.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chimere O. Agomo ◽  
Wellington A. Oyibo ◽  
Funke Odukoya-Maije

Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTP-SP) is a key strategy in the control of malaria in pregnancy. However, reports of increasing level of resistance to SP using nonpregnant populations have made it imperative for the continuous monitoring of the efficacy of SP in pregnant women. This study assessed using microscopy, monthly dosing and the standard two-dose regimen among 259 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Lagos, Nigeria that consented 122 in the two-dose arm (Arm A) and 137 in the monthly dose arm (Arm B). Baseline parasitaemia in the two groups was 5 (4.1%) and 3 (2.2%) in Arms A and B, respectively. Few of the women developed parasitaemia after the initial SP dose in Arms A 4 (3.3%) and B 2 (1.5%). However, none of the women had malaria infection after the second dose in both Arms. Although IPTP-SP is suggestive of protecting the women from malaria infection, there was no significant difference observed between the two dosing schemes.


Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eulambius M. Mlugu ◽  
Omary Minzi ◽  
Muhammad Asghar ◽  
Anna Färnert ◽  
Appolinary A.R. Kamuhabwa ◽  
...  

Effectiveness of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy with sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) for prevention of malaria and adverse birth outcomes can be compromised by parasites-resistance to sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine. This study prospectively evaluated the effectiveness of IPTp-SP in Southeast Tanzania. From January 2017 to May 2019, HIV-negative and malaria-negative (mRDT) pregnant women attending their first antenatal-care visit in the second or third trimester (n = 500) were enrolled to receive monthly IPTp-SP and followed the protocol till delivery. The primary outcome was the prevalence of histopathological placental malaria. Secondary outcomes were anemia, malaria parasites detected during pregnancy and at delivery, adverse birth outcomes (low-birth-weight [LBW], premature birth, fetal anemia, still birth, and spontaneous abortion). Rates of histopathological placental malaria, any parasitemia at delivery (placental, cord or maternal), and any adverse birth outcome were 9.4%, 20.9%, and 26.5%, respectively. Rates of symptomatic malaria and parasitemia during pregnancy were 2.8% and 16%, respectively. Histopathological placental malaria significantly increased the odds of any adverse birth outcomes, particularly LBW. IPTp-SP with more than or equal to three doses significantly improved birth weight and reduced the risk of LBW by 56% compared to <3 SP doses (p = 0.009). IPTp-SP with more than or equal to three doses is still effective in improving birth weight. However, the detection of histopathological placental-malaria in one-tenth and parasitemia in one-fifth of pregnant women reflects the need to optimize the prevention of malaria during pregnancy.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo Arnaldo ◽  
Isabel Cambe ◽  
Amílcar Magasso ◽  
Sérgio Chicumbe ◽  
Eduard Rovira-Vallbona ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundMalaria remains a significant health problem in Mozambique, particularly to pregnant women and children less than five years old. Intermittent preventive treatment is recommended for malaria prevention in pregnancy (IPTp). Despite the widespread use and cost-effectiveness of this intervention, the coverage remains low. In this study, we aimed to explore the factors limiting the access and use of IPTp-SP in Chókwè district.Methods and findingsWe used qualitative research methods through semi-structured interviews to collect data from 46 pregnant women and four health care staff from Chókwè, a rural area of southern Mozambique. Data were transcribed, manually coded and analysed using content and thematic method. Participants were not aware of pregnancy-related risks of malaria infection or the benefit of malaria prevention in pregnancy. Late and infrequently antenatal care (ANC) attendance, concerns about the long waiting time at ANC consultations,plus reluctance to disclose the pregnancy early, emerged as driving factors for inadequate IPTp delivery.ConclusionsPregnant women experience substantial barriers to receive adequate IPTp-SP dosing for malaria prevention. Poor awareness, non-compliance with ANC attendance and poor attitude of health care staff were main barriers to IPTp-SP delivery. There is a need to strengthen actions that improve awareness about malaria and prevention among pregnant women, as well as quality services across the ANC services in order to increase IPTp-SP uptake.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatima Mahmud Muhammad ◽  
Saharnaz Nedjat ◽  
Haniye Sadat Sajadi ◽  
Mahboubeh Parsaeian ◽  
Abraham Assan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background While the use of sulphadoxine pyrimethamine (SP) is effective in preventing malaria infection during pregnancy, there are challenges limiting its uptake in Nigeria. This study aimed at exploring the barriers to IPTp usage among pregnant women in Kano state - Nigeria. Methods This is a qualitative study. The purposive sampling strategy was used for identification and selection of 14 key informants for interviews. In addition, six focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with pregnant women (3 FGDs) and married men (3 FGDs). The conventional content analysis method was used to interpret meaning from the content of the data. MAXQDA 10 software was used for data management and analysis. Results Poor policy implementation, poor antenatal care attendance, inadequate access to intermittent preventive treatment at the community levels, lack of sustainable funding, and poor community engagement emerged as major barriers to IPTp use in Nigeria. Conclusion While the political will to allocate sufficient financial resources could help improve service delivery and IPTp usage among pregnant women, community participation is critical to sustain the gains.


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