Comparative study on the efficacy ofpyrimethamine chemoprophylaxis and intermittent preventive treatment with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine in the prevention of malaria in pregnancy in Nigeria

摘要

To compare the efficacy of pyrimethamine chemoprophylaxis and intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) using sulphadoxine-pyrimetharaine (S-P) in the prevention of malaria in pregnancy in Nigerian community. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 136 pregnant women within 16 and 24 weeks of gestation were randomly assigned to either the pyrimethamine or S-P group. At recruitment and at 34 weeks hemoglobin level was estimated and malaria parasite checked in peripheral blood. The use of malaria preventive strategies (bed nets and other antimalarials) was excluded. Statistical analysis was done with epi info 2002. T-test and Chi square were used to compare proportions setting the level of significance (probability value) at p<0.05.