Malaria poses a significant threat to pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa, necessitating effective interventions like the intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP). However, challenges persist in the uptake and effectiveness of this intervention. This scoping review aims to explore IPTp-SP uptake in African countries, identify influencing factors, and assess its effectiveness in preventing malaria and adverse outcomes in pregnancy. This scoping review follows Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, employing the PRISMA-ScR guidelines for reporting. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, JSTOR, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ProQuest, focusing on studies post-2000 published in the English language. The search produced 15,153 records, of which 104 full-text records were eligible and 101 papers were included in this review. The findings suggest varying IPTp-SP uptake rates, spanning from 5.3% to 98.9%, with their effectiveness supported by longitudinal studies, randomised controlled-trials (RCTs), cross-sectional surveys, and mixed-method studies. IPTp-SP demonstrates efficacy in reducing malaria during pregnancy, placental parasitaemia, and anaemia episodes, alongside improved birth outcomes. Common adverse effects of IPTp-SP include prematurity and low birth weight. Facilitators of IPTp-SP uptake include education and ANC attendance, while commonly reported barriers included inadequate knowledge and healthcare system challenges. The findings also suggest adverse effects such as prematurity, low birth weight, and maternal and perinatal mortality associated with IPTp-SP uptake. It is vital to strengthen antenatal care services by integrating comprehensive counselling on IPTp-SP and address healthcare system challenges. Community engagement, women’s empowerment, and context-specific interventions are necessary for promoting IPTp-SP uptake and improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes in Africa.

Introduction: Anaemia in pregnancy is a prevalent condition, impacting a significant portion of women globally and posing serious health risks to maternal and neonatal health. While pharmacological interventions aimed at reducing anaemia in pregnancy have received substantial attention,...

Anaemia in pregnancy (AIP) is diagnosed when a pregnant woman’s haemoglobin levels fall below 11g/dL. Globally, traditional medicines (TM) are widely used in the management of pregnancy-related conditions. This study aims to explore the experiences and management practices associated with the use of TMs to manage AIP. Materials and methods: A qualitative exploratory descriptive design was used to explore the experiences of pregnant women. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted among 18 pregnant women during their antenatal visits. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis. The researchers developed a codebook and used NVIVO 12 to analyse the transcribed data, Results and analysis: The women and their partners had lower socio-economic status (education, occupation and monthly income). The women selected for the study knew about the causes of AIP, including poor medication adherence and their inability to eat well. The women used TMs to manage AIP; however, they were concerned about the side effects on themselves and their fetuses. Although health workers discouraged the women from using TMs, family, friends, and communities encouraged their use. Conclusion: The women in this study perceived that traditional medicines could help manage AIPs, although they also reported concerns about adverse effects following use. Given the widespread accessibility of these remedies, further research is needed to clarify their safety, potential benefits, and appropriate use. Rather than outright discouragement, efforts should focus on strengthening supervised care and referral pathways.

Background: Medication errors (MEs) and their underreporting compromise patient safety in Ghana, but the landscape of error types, reporting systems, and barriers has not been comprehensively synthesized. Objective: This systematic review aims to map existing literature on MEs in Ghana and assess the functionality and utilization of reporting systems across healthcare settings. Design: Systematic review conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Data sources and methods: PubMed, PubMed Central, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were searched for studies published between 1 January 2000 and 30 May 2025, with a final update search performed in August 2025 prior to data analysis. Eligible studies were conducted in Ghana and published in English, addressing MEs or medication-error reporting practices across any study design. Study selection, data extraction, and methodological quality appraisal were performed independently by two reviewers, and findings were synthesized narratively due to heterogeneity in study designs and outcome definitions. Results: Reported medication-error prevalence varied widely across included studies (47%–68.4%), reflecting differences in study designs, populations, clinical settings, and definitions of MEs. Omission errors were frequently identified as the most common type, accounting for up to 77.6% of documented errors in some studies. Contributing factors included inadequate training (91.6%), poor supervision (92.3%), and illegible prescriptions (63.7%), with severe underreporting highly evident. Reporting practices were often informal, with many errors conveyed verbally or not documented. Common barriers included fear of blame or disciplinary action, low confidence in reporting systems, insufficient anonymity, lack of standardized forms, limited training, and minimal mentorship. Conclusion: MEs remain a substantial patient-safety concern in Ghana, compounded by informal reporting systems and persistent organizational and cultural barriers. These findings underscore the urgent need to implement structured, non-punitive reporting systems, enhance staff training, and foster a culture of openness to support medication safety.