Training Manual for Preventive Malaria - Ministry of Health

These effects are caused by malaria parasites being present in the placenta. These parasites are
at the placenta sites, impairing passage of nutrients and oxygen from passing from the mother
to the foetus. The use of the anti-malarial drugs given in treatment doses clears the sites of
these parasites, allowing the free passage of nutrients and oxygen to the foetus. The free
movement of nutrients and oxygen enables the foetus to develop normally, reducing the
chances that a foetus will suffer the effects of malaria. It also reduces the chances that a mother
will end up with maternal anaemia.
IPT is important because many pregnant women can have malaria parasites without
symptoms.
TARGET GROUP
IPT is given to all asymptomatic pregnant women who report at the antenatal clinic in the
second or third trimester but more especially:
• Those of low gravidity (i.e primigravida and secundigravida)
• Those infected with HIV
• Adolescents and youth (10- 24 years)
• Sicklers
• Those with unexplained anaemia
3.2: DRUG OF CHOICE IN GHANA
The drug of choice for IPT in Ghana is Sulphadoxine Pyrimethamine (SP)
This is because of;-
a) Effectiveness: SP is the single-dose anti-malarial with the best overall effectiveness for
prevention of malaria in pregnancy in areas of Africa with stable transmission of Plasmodium
falciparum malaria as in Ghana, and also where resistance to SP is low.
b) Efficacy: Very good in clearing placental parasites
c) Safety: No significant side effect when used appropriately in pregnancy
d) Acceptance: Demonstrated high levels of IPT acceptance by pregnant women
e) Programme feasibility: Good programme feasibility and can be delivered as a single dose
treatment under observation by the health worker and thereby minimizing compliance problems
f) Low resistance: Resistance to SP is quite low in Ghana. (i.e. Low treatment failure rate in
Ghana as at now).
29