Abstract

Effectiveness of SP-IPTp for Malaria and Evidence for the Need of T. Gondii Infection Preventive Policy during Pregnancy in Ghana

Highlights

  • Systemic and opportunistic parasitic infections acquired during pregnancy such as Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii, respectively, have the ability to permeate the placenta and serve as the main parameter to establish congenital transmission to the foetus [1,2]

  • In view of existing evidence of toxoplasmosis in pregnancy [9,10,30,35] and findings in the current study, we suggest the development of appropriate monitoring protocols for T. gondii infection in women of child-bearing age and an integrated management of the infection during pregnancy to improve maternal and child health as has been established in some temperate countries where cases are treated with pyrimethamine and sulfonamides [43]

  • The low prevalence of P. falciparum parasitaemia observed in the mothers is commendable as improved education on malaria prevention during pregnancy via the SP-IPTp programme in Ghana appears to make a positive impact

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Summary

Introduction

Systemic and opportunistic parasitic infections acquired during pregnancy such as Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii, respectively, have the ability to permeate the placenta and serve as the main parameter to establish congenital transmission to the foetus [1,2]. This raises important public health concerns as these parasites’ infections have both been reported to result in severe negative consequences in pregnancy outcomes such as intrauterine growth restrictions, intrauterine deaths, stillbirths, premature delivery, low birth weights, maternal and infant anaemia and maternal and neonatal deaths [3,4]. We sought to estimate the prevalence of Plasmodium spp and T. gondii infections in mothers at delivery and their neonates in a malaria holo-endemic area where Sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine intermittent preventive therapy for malaria in pregnancy (SP-IPTp) is administered and assess the possible risk of congenital T. gondii transmission

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