Table 1 Baseline characteristics of asymptomatic parasitaemic pregnant women enrolled in a modified in vivo efficacy study of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), stratified by gravidity

Age, mean (SD)

21.7 (5.0)

18.8 (2.9)

24.3 (5.0)

<0.0001

Age ≤20 years

54.3%

87.7%

25.2%

<0.0001

Bed net use

Used a bed net last night

32.2%

21.9%

41.2%

0.001

Used an insecticide-treated bed net last night

27.3%

14.9%

38.2%

<0.0001

Maternal weight (kg), mean (SD)

55.8 (7.1)

55.4 (6.9)

56.1 (7.3)

0.40

Education (years), mean (SD)

6.2 (3.0)

6.9 (2.9)

5.6 (3.0)

<0.001

Perceived below average wealth status

78.0%

81.6%

74.6%

0.19

Gestational age at enrolment (weeks), mean (SD)

21.0 (3.9)

20.2 (3.6)

21.8 (4.0)

0.002

Haemoglobin at enrolment, mean (SD)

9.8 (1.3)

9.2 (1.1)

10.4 (1.3)

<0.0001

Per cent of women with anaemia (Hb <11 g/dL) at enrolment

81.2%

96.5%

67.9%

<0.0001

Per cent of women with gametocytaemia

0.4%

0.00%

0.8%

-

Parasite density (parasites/ml), geometric mean (range)

273 (32–12,835)

372 (48–12,835)

209 (32–8,955)

<0.0001