Efficacy determination of sulphadoxine-prymethamine in the prevention of malaria in infant under five years in the Ejisu-Juaben Distrct of the Ashanti region

Malaria is not only a threat to pregnant women but to their newborn babies as well. It accounts for 1-3 million deaths yearly worldwide, with most of this burden occurring in children under 5 years of age in Sub-Saharan Africa. Around 90% of these deaths occur in Africa, mostly in young children. Malaria is Africa’s leading causes of under-five mortality (20%) and constitutes 10% of the continent’s overall disease burden. The treatment and control of malaria have become difficult with spread of drug-resistant strains of parasites leading to the discovery of sulfadoxine - prymethamine. However, the efficacy of the sulfadoxine - prymethamine is yet to be confirmed.
The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of sulfadoxine - prymethamine using the Cox regression model and the Poisson model. From the analysis of the Cox model the estimated hazard ratio for sulfadoxine - prymethamine compared to placebo is 0.94(95% Cl; 0.82-1.08, P=0.37). With a P-value of 0.37, there was no significant difference between the placebo and the treatment. Alternative treatments should be sort for since the treatment (sulfadoxine - prymethamine) is not very effective enough.