IPTP a Strategy for Malaria Prevention and Control During Pregnancy

Intermittent preventive Treatment in  pregnancy (IPTP)  also known as  Intermittent  Presumptive Therapy  or Intermittent  Protective Treatment  involves the administration of full treatment  (curative) of efficacious  anti - malarial, example  sulphadoxine - phrementhamine (SP) at specific intervals.

In order to reduce the adverse consequences of malaria during pregnancy, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a three pronged approach. This includes insecticide treated  Nets (ITN); personal protection against  Mosquito bites is strongly advised involving practices such as;  the use of protective clothing  to cover the arms and legs;

Mosquito netting over doors, windows and beds and improvements in the environment specifically directed at reducing the breeding sites of mosquitoes.

Benefits of IPTP

It requires no laboratory investigation for malaria.

It reduces parasite levels during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. It reduces the prevalence of maternal anemia at term pregnancy and reduces the prevalence of IUGR/prematurity.

The objectives of IPTP strategy are to reduce the incidence of malaria in pregnancy and also to reduce malaria related complications during pregnancy and mortality related during pregnancy.

Implementation of IPTP

Implementation of IPTP

Implementation of IPTP

The IPTP strategy provides a highly effective base for programmes through the use of safe and effective anti - malarial drugs in treatment doses, which can be linked to routine antenatal clinic visits.

The IPTP strategy provides a highly effective base for programmes through the use of safe and effective anti - malarial drugs in treatment doses, which can be linked to routine antenatal clinic visits.

The IPTP strategy provides a highly effective base for programmes through the use of safe and effective anti - malarial drugs in treatment doses, which can be linked to routine antenatal clinic visits.

In The Gambia, more than 96% of pregnant women attend routine antenatal care (ANC) clinic at least once during pregnancy making a clinic -based IPTP approach feasible.

Operational Guidelines

IPTP should be provided to all pregnant women at regular scheduled clinic visits after quickening ( i.e. 16 weeks of gestation ). Presently the drug of choice for IPTP is SP (commonly know as Fansidar).

IPTP should be provided to all pregnant women at regular scheduled clinic visits after quickening ( i.e. 16 weeks of gestation ). Presently the drug of choice for IPTP is SP (commonly know as Fansidar).

IPTP should be provided to all pregnant women at regular scheduled clinic visits after quickening ( i.e. 16 weeks of gestation ). Presently the drug of choice for IPTP is SP (commonly know as Fansidar).

Provision of IPTP could be either through routine antenatal care clinics or through other systems in the private or public sectors that may be available at the community level.

All  pregnant women should receive 2 doses  of  SP under  Directly  Observed  Therapy (DOTs)  strategy , that is to ensure that the  client ingests or in other words drinks the SP in the presence of the service providers.