Child growth and neurodevelopment after maternal antenatal antibiotic treatment
Open Access
- 3 September 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by BMJ in Archives of Disease in Childhood
- Vol. 107 (4), 323-328
- https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2021-322043
Abstract
Objective To assess whether intermittent preventive treatment of pregnant women (IPTp) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) and azithromycin (AZI) in a malaria-endemic area leads to sustained gains in linear growth and development in their offspring. Design Follow-up study of a randomised trial. Setting Mangochi District in rural southern Malawi. Participants 1320 pregnant women and their offspring. Interventions IPTp monthly with SP and twice with AZI (AZI-SP group), monthly with SP but no AZI (monthly SP), or twice with SP (control). No intervention was given to children. Main outcome measures Cognitive performance using Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPM) at 13 years of age; mean height and height-for-age Z-score (HAZ), cumulative incidence and prevalence of stunting (HAZ <−2); weight, body mass index, mid-upper-arm circumference and head circumference. Results At approximately 13 years of age, the mean CPM score was 14.3 (SD 3.8, range 6–29, maximum 36), with no differences between groups. Children in the AZI-SP group were on average 0.4 cm (95% CI −0.9 to 1.7, p=0.6) taller than those in the control group. For cumulative incidence of stunting, the HR in the AZI-SP group was 0.72 (95% CI 0.61 to 0.84, pConclusions In rural Malawi, maternal intensified infection control during pregnancy reduces offspring’s cumulative incidence of ever being stunted by 13 years of age. In this study, there was no evidence of a positive impact on cognitive performance. Trial registration number NCT00131235.Keywords
Funding Information
- Academy of Finland (207010, 79787)
- Foundation for Pediatric Research in Finland
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