A Consultant Family Physician at the Family Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Dr. John Ovuoraye, has advised pregnant women not to treat malaria with herbal and over-the-counter medications, noting that such action can predispose babies to deformities, especially cleft lips.
The physician said not all malaria drugs are safe during pregnancy and that not all orthodox medicines can be administered to a pregnant woman even if it was registered by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control
Speaking exclusively with PUNCH Healthwise, Dr. Ovuoraye, said taking malaria drugs during pregnancy without a doctor’s prescription puts children at the risk of having several birth defects.
According to the World Health Organisation, malaria infection during pregnancy is a major public health problem, with substantial risks for the mother, foetus and neonate.
Dr. Ovuoraye stressed that no medication should be taken for granted during pregnancy.
The physician said pregnant women are not meant to take OTC medicines like others, whether they are having headaches, malaria, fever, rashes, experiencing discharge, or any other condition.
“Drugs administered for the treatment of various ailments might not be safe for a pregnant woman. Doctors know that such drugs can affect the development of a foetus.
“So, taking drugs during pregnancy without a doctor’s prescription can lead to birth defects which may come in different ways.
“Some babies may have structural defects like cleft lip, cleft palate, extra digit, clubfoot. It can also lead to congenital heart conditions. It can affect the sexual organ or spine of the baby.
“Even if a pregnant woman was taking a particular malaria drug before she became pregnant, she might have to discontinue so that it will not affect the development of the baby. So, pregnant women should only take drugs based on a doctor’s prescription”, he said.
The physician noted that only a trained doctor will know the malaria drug that is safe for a woman during pregnancy as well as other medications that are safe when she feels unwell.
Dr. Ovuoraye said, “When a woman is pregnant, instead of going to the chemist or pharmacy to buy drugs on her own, she should take time to visit the hospital and see a doctor who will prescribe the right drug that is safe for her during pregnancy, even if it is a malaria drug.
“It is not all malaria drugs that can be taken during pregnancy but there are some that are safe. So, it is only a physician that will be able to guide you well.
“So, a pregnant woman should not go and buy OTC drugs when she has malaria. That could hurt the development of the baby because the person selling the drug to you is not well-guided.”
“Also, a woman that is pregnant is not meant to take herbal medicine because the toxicity level may affect the baby. The consumption of alcohol during pregnancy also affects the growth of the baby. You must report to a health worker who will guide you on the drug to take based on the stage of your pregnancy.”
WHO recommends that Intermittent Preventive Treatment of Malaria in Pregnancy with Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, a full therapeutic course of antimalarial medicine be given to pregnant women at routine antenatal care visits, regardless of whether the recipient is infected with malaria.
According to WHO, IPT reduces maternal malaria episodes, maternal and foetal anaemia, placental parasitaemia, low birth weight, and neonatal mortality.
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