Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy (IPTp)- Malaria

Malaria parasites can easily accumulate and multiply in the placenta, leading to placental malaria infection and complications such as maternal anaemia, low birth weight, preterm delivery, congenital infection, and/or perinatal death.

Note

IPTp is the administration of antimalarial drugs in full therapeutic doses at predetermined intervals during pregnancy in women with no signs or symptoms of malaria. The aim is to prevent the above-mentioned complications for both the mother and the fetus.

Medicine of choice for IPTp

A: Sulphadoxine + Pyrimethamine (FDC) (PO) 500 mg + 25 mg

• Dose: 3 tablets as a single dose

• Minimum of 3 doses during the entire pregnancy

• First dose should be given from 14 weeks of gestation onwards

• Each dose should be given at least 4 weeks apart

• The last dose may be administered up to the time of delivery without safety concerns

Important notes

• Sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) should not be given to:

  • Women receiving cotrimoxazole prophylaxis

  • Pregnant women taking folic acid at a daily dose ≥ 5 mg (as it reduces SP efficacy)

• SP can be safely given together with:

  • Ferrous sulphate 200 mg + folic acid 0.25 mg

• If malaria is diagnosed in a pregnant woman scheduled for IPTp-SP, SP should not be given; instead, full therapeutic antimalarial treatment should be administered.