A New Approach to Deliver Malaria Preventions to Pregnant Women at a Community Level in Uganda

SUMMARY Background: Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among pregnant women in Uganda. Although effective tools for prevention and control of malaria exist, their delivery presents a problem. Intermittent presumptive treatment (IPT) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is effective, yet \>60% of women in Uganda do not get it as \< 40%, attend antenatal care. Effective ways of delivering IPT with SP to pregnant women at a community level need to be developed. This study assessed whether community based resource persons like traditional birth attendants (TBAs), community reproductive health workers (CRHWs), adolescent peer mobilizers (APMs) and drug-shop owners (DSV) can distribute IPT with SP to pregnant women. Objectives: The objectives of this study were: * To assess community based approaches for delivering malaria prevention to pregnant women in Uganda; * To assess community perceptions, beliefs and practices associated with malaria treatment and prevention in pregnancy; * To assess whether community based resource persons can deliver IPT to pregnant women and reach those most at risk; * To assess the impact of IPT on anaemia and pregnancy outcome; * To estimate cost-effectiveness of the approaches and assess the acceptability and sustainability of the approaches. Methods: The study was conducted in 5 sub-counties of the Mukono district, situated on the shores of L. Victoria in Central Uganda. The district is hyper-endemic for malaria. 25 parishes with a total population of 75,000 people were used to test the new approaches. Phase 1 obtained qualitative data on community perceptions, beliefs and practices associated with malaria prevention in pregnancy. Phase 2 was an intervention study that assessed distribution of IPT to pregnant women by TBAs, CRHWs, APMs and DSVs compared with health units. Pregnant women of all parities were enrolled. Key resource persons in each parish were identified to sensitise the communities on the intervention.