Since 2012, 11 October has been marked as the International Day for the Girl Child. The day highlights the needs and challenges girls face, while aiming to promote girls' empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights. Here, we explore the particular challenges of malaria for girls and initiatives to help address them.
According to the WHO, malaria is the fifth leading cause of death for girls between 10-14 years.1
A study in Ghana has revealed that adolescent pregnant girls are more likely to have malaria infection and anaemia than adult pregnant women.3 This could be a consequence of reduced immunity during pregnancy,5 which is more pronounced for the first pregnancy, coupled with barriers in accessing health facilities.6
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) to protect pregnant women in Africa. In 2018, only 31% of eligible women and girls received IPTp.9
Pregnant girls, in particular, often miss this opportunity. Community health workers must be sensitized on encouraging pregnant adolescent girls to seek antenatal care services.
The RBM Partnership to End Malaria renewed its ‘Speed Up Scale-Up of IPTp’ Call to Action on October 6, 2020, urging all leaders and health policymakers across Africa, to prioritize that pregnant women and girls receive at least three doses of quality-assured IPTp.
It is critical that adolescents are protected from child marriages and unwanted early pregnancies that expose them to the complications of pregnancy and childbirth.
Due to a shortage of safety data on pregnant women for malaria treatments, there are limited treatment options particularly in the first trimester. Medicines for Malaria Venture’s (MMV) Malaria in Pregnancy and Babies strategy (MiMBa) is exploring how to develop malaria treatments for pregnant girls and women.
On this International Day for the Girl Child, global and country leaders must prioritize prevention and treatment of malaria in adolescent girls if malaria elimination is to be achieved.