Table 10 Impact of anti-helminthics on stillbirth and perinatal mortality

Gyorkos et al. 2006 [113]

Peru (Amazon region).

RCT. Data on adverse birth outcomes (N = 1042 births).

To compare of the impact of antenatal mebendazole (500 mg single dose; intervention) plus iron supplement vs. placebo plus iron supplement (controls) on the occurrence of adverse birth outcomes.

SBR: 8 vs. 4 in intervention vs. control groups, respectively. [NS]

ENND: 3 vs. 6 in intervention vs. control groups, respectively. [NS]

PMR: 22/1000 vs. 20.2/1000 in intervention and control groups, respectively (P = 0.840). [NS]

Pre-term: 28 vs. 31 respectively (P = 0.664). [NS]

Christian et al. 2004 [117]

Nepal (Sarlahi).

RCT.

Compared the impact of two doses of albendazole in pregnancy (intervention) vs. no treatment (controls) on birth outcomes.

NMR: OR = 0.54 (95% CI: 0.37–0.78) [unpublished data]

Observational Study

De Silva et al. 1999 [116]

Sri Lanka, hospital based.

Cross-sectional survey.

Compared impact on major congenital defects, stillbirth, perinatal death, and LBW among babies of mothers who had taken mebendazole during pregnancy (intervention) with those whose mothers had not taken an anti-helmintic (controls).

PMR: OR = 0.55 (95% CI: 0.4–0.77)

[19/1000 vs 33/1000 in intervention vs. control groups, respectively].

LBW: OR = 0.47 (95% CI: 0.32–0.71)

[1.1 vs 2.3% in intervention vs. control groups, respectively].

Major congenital malformations: OR = 1.24 (95% CI: 0.8–1.91, P = 0.39) [NS]

[97/5275 vs 26/1737 in intervention vs. control groups, respectively].