Intermittent Preventive Treatment of Malaria Provides Substantial Protection against Malaria in Children Already Protected by an Insecticide-Treated Bednet in Mali: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
PLoS Medicine·
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000407
- PMID
- 21304923
- PMCID
- PMC3032550
- OpenAlex
- W4246026898
- Study type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science (PLoS)
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
The paper frames the intervention as a potential addition to malaria control in seasonal transmission areas, including settings with high insecticide-treated net use. Its context is prevention in young children rather than treatment of established illness.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The study asked whether intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in children could add protection for children already sleeping under an insecticide-treated net in a seasonal malaria setting in Mali.
Study design
This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of intermittent preventive treatment with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine plus amodiaquine. Follow-up included passive surveillance for clinical malaria and cross-sectional surveys.
Population and setting
The study enrolled children aged 3 to 59 months in three localities in Kati, Mali. All enrolled children were given a long-lasting insecticide-treated net before randomization.
Main findings
The intervention arm had fewer clinical malaria episodes than the control arm, and the abstract reports an 82% protective effect with a 95% confidence interval of 78% to 85%. The abstract also states that the intervention reduced malaria infection and anaemia, and that the drug regimen was safe and well tolerated.
Public-health relevance
The paper frames the intervention as a potential addition to malaria control in seasonal transmission areas, including settings with high insecticide-treated net use. Its context is prevention in young children rather than treatment of established illness.
Important limitations
No explicit study limitations are stated in the supplied abstract. This summary is therefore limited to the single provided abstract and metadata, and the original paper would be needed for decision-grade interpretation.
GIDS interpretation
This article is discoverable as a randomized trial on malaria prevention in children in Mali, with relevance to seasonal transmission and preventive strategies. It should be interpreted as a study record, not as confirmation of any live surveillance signal.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 10 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.