Maternal outcomes
Placental malaria by histology
After two histological studies without placental malaria by histology
data were excluded, 2255 were randomized to receive DP, 1757 were
randomized to receive SP. The fixed effects analysis showed a
significant reduction in DP group compared with SP(RR=0.51; 95%CI,
0.44–0.59; P = 0.19; I²=40.30%; Figure S6; see Supplementary
Material), a significant 50% reduction in IPT-DP-8w, 54% reduction in
IPT-DP-4-6w(RR=0.50; 95%CI, 0.43–0.59; P = 0.00; I²=0.20%; Figure 9).
Infection with malaria parasites at
delivery
The incidence of infection with malaria parasites at delivery was
assessed in two trials, 585 participants were included, 497 were
randomized to receive DP, 1082 were randomized to receive SP. The fixed
effects analysis showed a significant reduction in DP groups(RR=0.05;
95%CI, 0.01–0.23; P = 0.00; I²=0.00%; Figure S7; see Supplementary
Material). However, this effect was entirely restricted to a significant
99.96% reduction in IPT- DP-4-6w group (RR=0·04; 95%CI, 0.01–0. 27; P
= 0.00; I²=0.00%; Figure 10-A), whereas no treatment effect was found
in IPT-DP-8w group yet (0·10 [0·01 to 0·71]; Figure 10-B).
Therefore, DP is associated with a better effect with 4-6 weeks of
administration.
Anaemia during pregnancy (haemoglobin <110 g/L))
Anaemia during pregnancy was performed in two trials. Since the high
degree of heterogeneity (I²= 94.7%), a random effects model was used.
The random effect model showed non-significant reduction was found
between DP and SP groups (RR=0.71; 95%CI, 0.42–1.22; P = 0.22; Figure
S8; see Supplementary Material). The subgroup analysis showed similar
effects between IPT-DP-4w, IST-DP and IPT-SP-4-6w groups. (RR=1.07;
95%CI, 0.92–1.24; P = 0.36, I²=0.00%; Figure 11-A) (RR=0.96; 95%CI,
0.85–1.08; P = 0.46; I²=0.00%; Figure 11-B).