The prevalence of malaria at first antenatal visit in Blantyre, Malawi declined following a universal bed net campaign.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Preventing malaria during pregnancy is important for the health of mothers and newborns. Interventions, which include distribution of bed nets and administration of intermittent preventive treatment (IPT), typically occur at the first antenatal visit, usually in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. In 2012, during the course of ongoing clinical studies of malaria among pregnant women in Malawi, a universal bed net campaign was implemented by the Government. This study tested the hypothesis that a universal bed net campaign would decrease the prevalence of malaria among pregnant women at their first antenatal visit.

Methods

Some 1661 women were recruited for two studies from 2009 to 2014. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was conducted from dried blood spots collected

SUBMITTER: Boudova S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4625940 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature