To mark the theme #EachforEqual1 on International Women’s Day, the RBM Partnership to End Malaria and its Malaria in Pregnancy Working Group will highlight how a simple and inexpensive intervention delivered to pregnant women in malaria-endemic countries can save lives, reduce inequalities, and lift barriers to development.
Malaria deaths have been declining since 2004 thanks to a concerted international effort to deliver lifesaving tools to the people who need them.2,3 But we are still missing the mark for many. Malaria in pregnancy causes the deaths of 10,000 mothers and up to 200,000 newborn babies around the world every year.4 In sub-Saharan Africa, malaria in pregnancy accounts for 11% of all newborn deaths and 20% of all stillbirths.5
Even when death is averted, malaria in pregnancy can cause maternal anaemia, premature labour, and low birth weight, all of which are associated with a negative impact on early childhood development.6
The good news is that cost-effective tools exist to tackle this public health challenge. One of these is intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP). Eligible pregnant women in malaria-endemic areas in Africa should receive IPTp with SP as part of antenatal care, with the objective that at least three doses of SP are received throughout pregnancy starting as early as possible in the second trimester.7
IPTp with quality-assured SP has proven to be effective in preventing maternal and neonatal deaths, and reduces maternal malaria episodes, maternal and fetal anaemia, and low birth weight.8
This is powerful for both human and economic development: studies have shown that when children have a good start in life, they enjoy better health, wellbeing, and productivity, which, in turn, allows communities and countries to thrive.9
In 2018, a total of 36 countries in sub-Saharan Africa had adopted IPTp in their national policy. Data for the same year show that coverage with three doses of SP during pregnancy remains low, at 31%.10 But this situation is poised to improve. Many governments, research institutions, and other organizations have been working together to accelerate IPTp scale-up, including the members of RBM’s Malaria in Pregnancy Working Group.
In 2020, the RBM Malaria in Pregnancy Working Group will launch a new campaign to rally a larger community of stakeholders to bring this lifesaving intervention to all eligible women in sub-Saharan Africa who need it. So stay tuned to learn how you can contribute.
Let’s use this year’s International Women’s Day to increase awareness and support the effort to give women better access to health services. When women thrive, everyone benefits!