Table 1 Definitions of correct practice and adequate knowledge for malaria case management in pregnancy

Correct Malaria diagnosis

Parasitological confirmation/test by microscopy or rapid diagnostic test

Clinical diagnosis when a test is unavailable

Correct pregnancy assessment

Asked about last menstrual period, gestational age, and/or palpated for fundal height

Asked about pregnancy and/or offered a pregnancy detection test

Correct treatment and dosage

Acceptable knowledge answers:

First trimester- uncomplicated malaria

Oral quinine and clindamycin. Artemether-lumefantrine if quinine is unavailable

Second/Third trimester- uncomplicated malaria

Oral artemether-lumefantrine or quinine and clindamycin

Complicated/severe malaria (first, second and third trimesters)

Parenteral artesunate or artemether followed by artemether-lumefantrine

Parenteral quinine followed by artemether-lumefantrine or oral quinine

Treatment regimens and dosage

Quinine: 2 tablets of 300 mg, 3 times daily for 7 days (2 × 3 × 7) and Clindamycin 150 mg twice daily for 7 days

Artemether-lumefantrine tablets (20/120 mg): 4 tablets, 2 times daily for 3 days (4 × 2 × 3)

Parenteral artesunate: Loading dose of 2.4 mg/kg body weight, then at 12 h and at 24 h, then once a day until the patient can tolerate oral medication

Parenteral artemether: Intramuscular 3.2 mg/kg, then 1.6 mg/kg every 24 h until the patient can tolerate oral medication

Parenteral quinine: Intravenous infusion 20 mg/kg body weight loading dose in 15mls/kg of 5% dextrose or normal saline, then 10 mg/kg every 8 h until the patient can tolerate oral medication