Malaria drug in pregnancy protects against sexually transmitted infections according to : Hindustan Times

New Delhi: A medicine given to pregnant women to protect against malaria has been shown also to safeguard against several sexually transmitted infections, a new study has revealed. The analyses confirmed IPTp-SP protects against adverse birth outcomes but of particular interest to the team was the effect the drug had on the infections themselves. "While sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine has been thought to offer pregnant women protection against other infections, no evidence existed - until now. This study has produced the first compelling evidence that the same preventive treatment reduces adverse birth outcomes attributable to curable sexually transmitted/reproductive tract infections (STIs/RTIs). Currently only 24% of pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa receive two SP doses, well below national and international targets.




"For that bargain price, pregnant women receive broad protection against a range of infections which can lead to very serious consequences." "Sexually transmitted and reproductive tract infections are linked to devastating birth consequences for pregnant women, including spontaneous abortion, stillbirth and premature and low birthweight," said Matthew Chico, lead author of the report, which studied more than 1,000 pregnant women in rural Zambia. Malaria prevention treatment using the drug sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) goes beyond 'life-saving protection against malaria', the LSHTM assistant professor added in a statement. By Kieran GuilbertDAKAR, March 2 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A drug given to pregnant women to combat malaria also offers protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and boosting doses of the 'double protection' treatment cuts the risk of infant deaths, researchers said on Thursday. Only a quarter of pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa receive two doses of SP - well below international health targets - and the study authors called for this to be improved.

Malaria drug for pregnant women also combats sexually ...

"For that bargain price, pregnant women receive broad protection against a range of infections which can lead to very serious consequences." "Sexually transmitted and reproductive tract infections are linked to devastating birth consequences for pregnant women, including spontaneous abortion, stillbirth and premature and low birthweight," said Matthew Chico, lead author of the report, which studied more than 1,000 pregnant women in rural Zambia. Malaria prevention treatment using the drug sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) goes beyond 'life-saving protection against malaria', the LSHTM assistant professor added in a statement. "Sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine is a cheap 'double protection' drug – 20 U.S. cents per dose," said Chico. Although pregnant women in Zambia receive antimalarial drugs and testing for syphilis and HIV, screening is not routine for STIs including gonorrhoea, chlamydia and bacterial vaginosis, the study said.



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