3.1
Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPTp)
Guidelines for the Treatment of Malaria in Malawi, 6th Edition, 2025. Chapter 3, Malaria in Pregnancy.
Treatment
Pregnancy increases the risk of malaria infection in all women. Malaria in pregnancy causes febrile illness, anaemia and increases the risk of maternal and neonatal complications such as miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight, and may lead to maternal and neonatal death if left untreated.
Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPTp) of malaria in pregnancy is one of the major malaria preventive strategies in Malawi. The policy for IPTp is for women to receive at least three doses of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) after the first trimester. Administer three tablets of SP with each scheduled antenatal care visit from 13 weeks of gestation. The doses should be administered at least four weeks apart and given as directly observed therapy (DOT). The last dose of SP can be taken safely at the time of delivery. SP can be given either on an empty stomach or with food.
HIV-positive women receiving cotrimoxazole prophylaxis should not receive SP.
Check doses against the printed guideline and your clinical judgement before treating a patient. Spotted an error? Report it from the contact links below.
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