Background: Gestational malaria remains one of the most complex forms of malaria. To fight it, several African countries adopted intermittent presumptive treatment with Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (IPT-SP) and the use of preventive measures such as insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs), indoor residual sprays (IRS) and popular education on good practices to fight against malaria. In Gabon a country of central Africa, no study has investigated the use of IPT-SP in rural areas since its implementation. The aim of this study was to investigate the adhesion level of pregnant women to IPT-SP, coverage of ITNs and IRS, and knowledge on the good practices about malaria in a rural area of Gabon. Using a questionnaire, we led a retrospective study including pregnant women from January 5th 2016 to January 31st 2018 and a cross-sectional survey including women seen for antenatal care and all febrile patients in consultation from February 2nd to May 31st 2018. Malaria was diagnosed using rapid diagnostic tests. Statistical analyses were done. Results: We included 607 pregnant women before their delivery. Women between 20 and 25 years old were the most prevalent (37.26%, n=229). Among them, 74.53% were unemployed and 47.21% living in the villages surrounding the rural town of Fougamou. The rate of adhesion to IPT-SP was 94.37% (n=573). Among them, 47.8% (n=274) had received 3 doses of IPT. Among the pregnant women included during the cross-sectional survey, only 8.7% (n=14) were infected with Plasmodium. Bed nets were used by 80.12% (n=129) of women. Conclusion: Data showed a near complete adhesion of IPT-SP in the rural area of Fougamou. Clinical trials are needed to investigate the efficacy of IPT-SP and antimalarial drug markers.
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