Comparison of Two Strategies for the Delivery of IPTc
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2007-02-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Antimalarial chemoprophylaxis can reduce morbidity and mortality from malaria in children.
However, this approach to malaria control has not been implemented widely because of concerns
over its possible effect on the development of resistance and natural immunity. Intermittent
preventive treatment (IPT) may be able to achieve some of the beneficial effects of
chemoprophylaxis without its drawbacks. Recently, it has been shown that IPT given to
Senegalese children under the age of five years on three occasions during the malaria
transmission season reduced the incidence of clinical malaria by approximately 90%. However,
it is uncertain how this intervention can be most effectively delivered. Therefore, 26
Maternal and Child Health (MCH) trekking clinics in Upper River Division, south of the River
Gambia, each with an average catchment population of 400-500 children under 5 years of age,
will be randomly allocated to receive IPT from the MCH trekking team or from a IPT dispenser
(village health worker, traditional birth attendant or a community mother based in a primary
health care village). Treatment with a single dose of sulfadoxine /pyrimethamine (SP) plus
three doses of amodiaquine will be given to all study subjects at monthly intervals on three
occasions during the months of September, October and November. The primary end points will
be the incidence of clinical attacks of malaria detected by passive case detection, and
cost-effectiveness of the delivery methods. Important secondary endpoints will be the
coverage and the equity of coverage of IPT in preventing malaria morbidity.
Phase:
Phase 4
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Gates Malaria Partnership London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine