The Impact of Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine Use At Scale on Newborn Outcomes in Nigeria

The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility of the scale-up of sulphadoxine- pyrimethamine (SP) for the preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy in three Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Sokoto State, Nigeria. The scale-up strategy tested included the introduction of community-based distribution of SP in addition to ongoing health facility distribution during antenatal care (ANC) visits. In addition, the study examined for the effect of SP use by participants during pregnancy on the head circumference of live newborns and on the odds of a baby being a stillborn. Finally, the investigators also sought to quantify the costs associated with program scale up SP to deliver at least three doses of SP per participant via a government operated distribution program.