Purpose. – Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine for pregnant
women (IPTp-SP) coverage remains far below the desirable goal of at least three doses before delivery. This
study evaluates an innovative intervention using mobile phones as a means of increasing coverage for the
third dose of IPTp-SP.
Methods. – This study in Burkina Faso was designed as an open-label, pragmatic, two-arm, randomised trial.
Pregnant women who attended antenatal clinic (ANC) visits were included at their first ANC visit and followed
until delivery. The intervention was built around the use of mobile phones as means ensuring direct
tracking of pregnant women.
Results. – Two hundred and forty-eight (248) pregnant women were included in the study. The proportion of
women who received at least three doses of IPTp-SP was 54.6 %. In the intervention group, 54.1 % of women
received at least three doses of IPTp-SP versus 55.1 % in the control group, a non-significant difference
(adjusted odds ratio “aOR”, 0.86 ; 95 % confidence interval “95 % CI”, 0.49−1.51). Women in the intervention
group were more likely to carry out their ANC visits in a timely manner than those in the control group (aOR,
3.21 ; 95 % CI, 1.91−5.39).
Conclusion. – While mobile phone intervention did not increase the proportion of women receiving three
doses of IPTp-SP, it did help to increase the proportion of timely ANC visits.
Trial registration. – PACTR202106905150440

T
el
ephones mobiles, Traitement pr
eventif intermittent du paludisme, Sulfadoxine-Pyrim
ethamine, consultation pr
enatale, Burkina Faso