Study of Mass Drug Administration Using Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine With or Without Primaquine to Reduce Malaria in High-Risk Communities in Eastern Ghana

What this Trial Is About

Malaria remains a leading cause of illness and death, especially among children and pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa. This research evaluates whether mass drug administration MDA using dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine DHAP with or without a single low dose of primaquine PQ can reduce malaria infections and interrupt transmission in high endemic communities in Ghana. The study aims to provide evidence to support national malaria policies and understand the impact on malaria parasite carriage, resistance markers, and anemia prevalence over two years. Participants will receive either DHAP alone, DHAP plus PQ, or standard care in a randomized design. DHAP is given as a full 3-day oral course based on weight or age, with dosing carefully adjusted for different age groups. Primaquine is given as a single low dose on day 3 to eligible participants. The MDA intervention will be administered every two months, six times per year, for two years. The control group will receive routine malaria care without additional intervention. Participants will be monitored through finger-prick blood tests for malaria parasites and anemia, with samples collected for molecular and genetic studies. Community health workers will follow up on treatment adherence and adverse events for seven days after dosing. Data will also be collected through questionnaires, focus groups, and interviews to understand treatment challenges and perceptions. The study will assess malaria infection rates, symptomatic cases, anemia in children under 15, and drug resistance markers throughout the study period.

Assessing the Feasibility of Combining Dihydroartemisinin Piperaquine and Primaquine for Malaria Mass Drug Administration in High Endemic Communities in the Eastern Region of Ghana