Malaria Protection for Pregnant Women in Africa
Author Information
Author(s): van Eijk Anna Maria, Hill Jenny, Alegana Victor A, Kirui Viola, Gething Peter W, ter Kuile Feiko O, Snow Robert W
Primary Institution: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Hypothesis
What is the coverage of malaria prevention strategies for pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa?
Conclusion
Coverage of insecticide-treated nets and intermittent preventive treatment in pregnant African women is inadequate, necessitating increased efforts to scale up these interventions.
Supporting Evidence
- 45 out of 47 countries had a policy for insecticide-treated nets.
- Only 17% of pregnant women at risk received insecticide-treated nets.
- 25% of pregnant women received at least one dose of intermittent preventive treatment.
Takeaway
This study looked at how many pregnant women in Africa are getting the help they need to avoid malaria. It found that many are not getting the protection they should.
Methodology
Data was extracted from national malaria policies and household surveys to estimate coverage of malaria prevention strategies.
Potential Biases
Potential biases include reliance on self-reported data and variations in survey methodologies across countries.
Limitations
Sample sizes for pregnant women at the administrative level were frequently small, which may affect the precision of estimates.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on pregnant women in malaria-endemic areas of sub-Saharan Africa.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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