Meeting report of the Evidence Review Group on malaria in pregnancy

Overview

Malaria in pregnancy adversely affects maternal and infant health outcomes. The effects of  Plasmodium falciparum infection and disease in sub-Saharan Africa have been well documented. However, the incidence and impact of P. vivax infection in pregnant women mainly outside Africa is less well known. Recently, different malaria control strategies among pregnant women – such as intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp), intermittent screening and treatment in pregnancy, and single screening  and treatment –  have been evaluated in Asia and the Pacific, in areas with both vivax and falciparum transmission.

WHO convened a group of experts to develop draft recommendations based on the review of recent evidence derived from malaria in pregnancy studies conducted in Africa, the Americas and Asia. Other studies reviewed also included evaluations on antimalarial drug pharmacokinetics in pregnant women, impact of maternal use of azithromycin added to IPTp-sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine on birth outcomes and sexually transmitted infections and reproductive tract infections, and the interactions between HIV infection and malaria in pregnancy.