Combining dihydroartemisinin‑piperaquine and a single low dose of primaquine to reduce malaria in high-transmission communities in Eastern Ghana
Implementation Research to Assessing the Feasibility of Combining Dihydroartemisinin Piperaquine and Primaquine for Malaria Mass Drug Administration in High Endemic Communities in the Eastern Region of Ghana
This will test whether giving whole communities dihydroartemisinin‑piperaquine plus a single low dose of primaquine can reduce malaria infections in people aged 3 months and older who live in high-transmission communities in Eastern Ghana.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 9000 (estimated) |
| Ages | 3 Months and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Accra, Eastern Region) |
| Trial ID | NCT07389057 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This pilot uses mass drug administration (MDA) of dihydroartemisinin‑piperaquine (DHAP) with a single low dose of primaquine (PQ) across target communities to try to interrupt malaria transmission. The program will deliver the medicines to residents aged 3 months and above who meet safety criteria, with exclusion of pregnant women, infants under 1 year or <10 kg, and known G6PD‑deficient individuals. Investigators will monitor parasite carriage, transmission markers (including gametocyte clearance), and safety outcomes over repeated rounds of treatment. The work builds on earlier community MDA and mass testing efforts in the region and will include local implementation and follow-up in the Pokrom subdistrict.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are residents of the target communities aged 3 months and older who weigh at least 10 kg, are not pregnant, are not known to be G6PD deficient, and can provide informed consent (or assent with parental consent for minors).
Not a fit: People who are pregnant, known to be G6PD deficient, have a life‑threatening illness, or are under 1 year of age or under 10 kg are excluded and therefore will not receive benefit from this MDA.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could sharply reduce parasite carriage and lower community malaria transmission, leading to fewer infections and malaria cases.
How similar studies have performed: Previous MDA using artemether‑lumefantrine in the region achieved very large reductions in parasite carriage (>95%) but saw later fluctuations, and single low‑dose primaquine is known from other studies to reduce gametocytes though community MDA combining DHAP+PQ is less widely tested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * must be aged 3 months and above and * be resident in the communities for the period of the study, * completed and signed a consent form from the parent or guardian of children below 18 years * Completed and signed assent for 12-17 years old children. * Completed and signed consent for those from age 18 years and above. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant women * individual with a life-threatening illness (excluding malaria) * less than 10Kg body weight (or less than 1 year old) * individuals who had experienced adverse effects related to primaquine or * known to be G6PD deficient .
Where this trial is running
Accra, Eastern Region
- Pokrom sub district — Accra, Eastern Region, Ghana (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Ndong Ignatius Cheng, PhD — Noguchi Memorial institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana
- Study coordinator: Ndong Ignatius Cheng, PhD
- Email: Ncheng@noguchi.ug.edu.gh
- Phone: +233561817573
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.