Malaria Journal (Jan 2020)

Effect of group versus individual antenatal care on uptake of intermittent prophylactic treatment of malaria in pregnancy and related malaria outcomes in Nigeria and Kenya: analysis of data from a pragmatic cluster randomized trial

  • Lisa Noguchi,
  • Lindsay Grenier,
  • Mark Kabue,
  • Emmanuel Ugwa,
  • Jaiyeola Oyetunji,
  • Stephanie Suhowatsky,
  • Brenda Onguti,
  • Bright Orji,
  • Lillian Whiting-Collins,
  • Oniyire Adetiloye

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-020-3099-x
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 19, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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Abstract Background Every year, malaria in pregnancy contributes to approximately 20% of stillbirths in sub-Saharan Africa and 10,000 maternal deaths globally. Most eligible pregnant women do not receive the minimum three recommended doses of intermittent preventive treatment with Sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP). The objective of this analysis was to determine whether women randomized to group antenatal care (G-ANC) versus standard antenatal care (ANC) differed in IPTp uptake and insecticide-treated nets (ITN) use. Methods Prospective data were analysed from the G-ANC study, a pragmatic, cluster randomized, controlled trial that investigated the impact of G-ANC on various maternal newborn health-related outcomes. Data on IPTp were collected via record abstraction and difference between study arms in mean number of doses was calculated by t test for each country. Data on ITN use were collected via postpartum interview, and difference between arms calculated using two-sample test for proportions. Results Data from 1075 women and 419 women from Nigeria and Kenya, respectively, were analysed: 535 (49.8%) received G-ANC and 540 (50.2%) received individual ANC in Nigeria; 211 (50.4%) received G-ANC and 208 (49.6%) received individual ANC in Kenya. Mean number of IPTp doses received was higher for intervention versus control arm in Nigeria (3.45 versus 2.14, p < 0.001) and Kenya (3.81 versus 2.72, p < 0.001). Reported use of ITN the previous night was similarly high in both arms for mothers in Nigeria and Kenya (over 92%). Reported ITN use for infants was higher in the intervention versus control arm in Nigeria (82.7% versus 75.8%, p = 0.020). Conclusions G-ANC may support better IPTp-SP uptake, possibly related to better ANC retention. However, further research is needed to understand impact on ITN use. Trial registration Pan African Clinical Trials Registry, May 2, 2017 (PACTR201706002254227).

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