Preliminary safety assessment of sulphadoxine–pyrimethamine during intermittent presumptive treatment of pregnant women in a region with high prevalence of G6PD deficiency
Affiliations: Centre for Tropical Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana | Ghana National Drugs Programme, Ministry of Health, Accra, Ghana | National Malaria Control Programme, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana | Management Sciences for Health, Accra, Ghana
Note: [] Corresponding author. Centre for Tropical Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Ghana Medical School, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, PO Box 4236, Accra, Ghana. Tel./Fax: +233 21 668219; E-mail: alexooo@yahoo.com.
Abstract: Pregnant women in 20 administrative districts of Ghana are being monitored intensively for adverse events following intermittent presumptive treatment with sulphadoxine–pyrimethamine. Preliminary results indicate a low level of adverse events (0.16%) suggesting good tolerability of the drug, despite the relatively high G6PD deficiency prevalence of more than 20%. Since the real possibility of under-reporting cannot be overlooked, the focused surveillance approach being used in the study is being complemented with in-depth interviews following home visits and focus group discussions with patients and healthcare workers.
