Assessing the Impact of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Reducing Malaria Incidence among Pregnant Women in High-Risk Areas

Malaria poses significant health risks for pregnant women, especially in high-transmission areas such as sub-Saharan Africa. Physiological and immunological changes during pregnancy increase vulnerability to malaria-related complications, including maternal anemia, low birth weight, and preterm delivery, which can severely impact maternal and neonatal health. To combat these risks, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy (IPTp) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) as a proactive measure to reduce malaria incidence in this population. IPTp-SP, administered at regular intervals starting from the second trimester, has shown promising outcomes, such as reduced malaria prevalence, improved maternal hemoglobin levels, and lower incidence of placental malaria. This narrative review synthesized current literature on IPTp’s effectiveness, challenges, and future directions, analyzing studies across multiple high-risk regions to highlight both successes and barriers in IPTp implementation. Key challenges identified include rising SP resistance, limited healthcare infrastructure, and socio-cultural obstacles impacting adherence. To address these, alternative strategies such as introducing alternative antimalarial drugs like dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP), expanding antenatal care (ANC) services, and utilizing community health workers (CHWs) to improve IPTp delivery are examined. Emerging mobile health (mHealth) tools are also explored as potential solutions for enhancing adherence. Recommendations for policy included investment in ANC infrastructure, community-based outreach, and increased support for research on SP alternatives. The findings underscored IPTp’s essential role in protecting maternal and child health, while highlighting areas for innovation and policy reform to optimize its impact in malaria-endemic regions. Keywords: Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPTp), Malaria, Pregnant Women, Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP), Public Health.