EFFECT OF CHLOROQUINE PROPHYLAXIS DURING PREGNANCY ON MATERNAL HEMATOCRIT

Two controlled trials of chloroquine prophylaxis during pregnancy were performed, one in Burkina Faso in 1987, on all pregnant women, and th e other in Cameroon in 1992, on primigravidae only. Maternal haematocr it at delivery was found to be significantly higher in those women who had received chloroquine than in those who had not, both in Burkina F aso (37.4% v. 36.5%; P=0.01) and in Cameroon (34.8% v. 32.8%; P=0.02). Anaemia, defined as an haematocrit of < 30%, was also less common in those treated with chloroquine (6.3% v. 8.5% in Burkina Faso and 8.3% v. 18.4% in Cameroon) but this difference was not significant in eithe r country. A slight improvement in haematological status when prophyla xis is given has also been observed in similar studies performed in ot her tropical countries. The present results confirm the usefulness of targeting antimalarial prophylaxis at pregnant women. Such prophylaxis during the first pregnancy also increases birthweight.