Evaluating the impact of seasonal malaria chemoprevention on markers associated with drug resistance in Karamoja region, Uganda

Authors: Richard Kajubi

While the prevalence of mutations associated with moderate sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance was high in the Karamoja region, seasonal malaria chemoprevention did not lead to an increase in resistance markers.

The National Malaria Control Division and Malaria Consortium conducted a phased seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) implementation study in Karamoja region, Uganda, in 2021 and 2022. We evaluated the prevalence of molecular markers associated with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), amodiaquine (AQ) and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) resistance in five districts over the two years. Overall, SMC did not result in the selection for or any observable changes in resistance markers associated with SP, AQ and DP. As SMC expands in Karamoja region, ongoing surveillance for SP and AQ resistance markers will be needed.

This oral presentation was given at the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM) Society's 8th Pan-African Malaria Conference.