Availability and use of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) in pregnancy in Blantyre District: A Safe Motherhood and BIMI Joint Survey

Abstract

[Introduction] In Africa over 24 million pregnancies every year are affected by malaria, with less than 5% of pregnant women able to access treatment or effective interventions (USAID). The Malawi National Malaria Control Programme established by the Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) implemented a policy that all pregnant women should receive two doses of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP). This has become known as the intermittent presumptive treatment with SP (IPT-SP) policy. According to the guidelines, the first dose should be given during the first antenatal visit occurring after the first trimester of pregnancy is complete, and the second dose at the beginning of the third trimester (between 28 and 34 weeks) (MOHP, 1997).


[Malawi Med J. Vol.14(1) 2002: 8-11]