Preventing malaria in pregnancy by giving preventive treatment through Benin’s national policy

IPTp is associated with a 10% reduction in low birth weight compared to a pre-trial study.

• The use of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) was linked to lower rates of low birth weight (LBW) compared to the previous chloroquine prophylaxis.
• LBW rates were 10% with national IPTp and 8.7% in the IPTp trial, compared to 15.7% in the pre-trial study.
• Malaria infection of the placenta (MIP) was reduced to 2.9% in the IPTp trial, contrasting with 11.2% and 16.7% in the national IPTp and pre-trial studies, respectively.
• Compliance with the national IPTp was reported at 84%, but adherence to the directly observed therapy (DOT) scheme showed significant gaps.
• There is a need for improved training of health staff to enhance adherence to IPTp.

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