Commentary: Cochrane review on ITNs for preventing malaria in pregnancy.

摘要

The burden of malaria during pregnancy, not only in the Africa region but also in many areas of theworld where malaria remains a public health problem, is immense. In high transmission areas, malaria infection in pregnant women (MIP) is often asymptomatic and therefore not usually detected and treated, resulting in severe anaemia for the motherwith attendant consequences for the neonate (fetal loss, low birth weight and infant mortality). In areas with low and unstable malaria transmission, the consequences of infection are even more severe for the mother and may be fatal. Hence, prevention of malaria during pregnancy is critical for both mother and child in stable and unstable transmission areas and a key strategy for malaria control.WHO recommends the use of ITNs for prevention and antimalarial drugs either for IPT or for case management of malaria in pregnant women. With increasing Plasmodium falciparum resistance to sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine, the recommended drug for IPT in high transmission areas, and the absence of alternate strategies in low and unstable transmission areas, ITNs are increasingly becoming the mainstay of malaria prevention in both stable and unstable transmission areas. A demonstration of the effectiveness of ITNs in reducing the overall burden and consequences of MIP is therefore of critical importance.