Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy-Intermittent Preventive Treatment (ACT-IPT) Trial Among Schoolchildren in Kassena-Nankana, Ghana (ACTIPT)

October 22, 2011 updated by: Dr. Ernest Cudjoe Opoku M.D., M.P.H., Navrongo Health Research Centre, Ghana

The Impact of Intermittent Preventive Malaria Treatment With Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACT) on Hemoglobin, Malaria, Schistosomiasis, and School Attention Among Primary Schoolchildren in the Kassena-Nankana Districts, Ghana

The purpose of this study is to determine if Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy, ACT,(artemether-lumefantrine) used as intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) alone or in combination with praziquantel, will have any effects on anemia, malaria, schistosomiasis and school sustained attention and concentration.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Unknown

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Introduction: Malaria, schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are rife in sub-Saharan Africa where school children are at great risk of morbidity. Although the strategy of using intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) for malaria control has been proven beneficial among infants and pregnant women, it is yet to be implemented in school children on a large scale. Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) use as IPT is being limited by widespread reports of resistance. Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) has been proven efficacious as IPT among school children in few studies. Other studies have shown that artemisinin derivatives exhibit anti-schistosomal activity. This could be an added effect of using ACTs, as IPT, to prevent malaria related morbidity in school children in sub-Saharan Africa.

General Objective: To examine the effect of IPT with ACTs and anti-helminthes against malaria and helminthes infections on health and school attention among children 6 to 12 years old.

Specific objectives

  1. To estimate the prevalence of malaria parasitemia, schistosomiasis and anemia among primary schoolchildren.
  2. To determine the impact of 3 doses of IPT (with artemether-lumefantrine) and de-worming (with albendazole and/or praziquantel) on hemoglobin and school (classroom) attention and recall.
  3. To determine the effects of IPT (with artemether-lumefantrine) and de-worming (with albendazole and /or praziquantel) on the prevalence and intensity of schistosomes infection among schoolchildren.
  4. To determine the safety and tolerability of IPT with artemether-lumefantrine combined with albendazole and/or praziquantel among school children.

Materials and methods: An open-labeled randomized trial, including 3 arms, will be carried out in 6 primary schools in the Kassena-Nankana Districts, Ghana, where malaria and schistosome infection (with S. hematobium and S. mansoni) are endemic. After informed consent and assent are obtained, about 345 (115 in each arm) class three school children will be investigated for malaria parasitemia, anemia, schistosome and soil-transmitted helminths infections, and classroom attention and recall in a baseline pre-intervention survey. Mass treatment is then carried out in the 6 randomized schools with ACT and albendazole in one study arm; ACT, albendazole and praziquantel in the second arm while albendazole and praziquantel will be given in the third school arm. ACT mass treatment using artemether-lumefantrine is carried out every school term (4 monthly) for one year while praziquantel is given once and albendazole twice a year. After one academic year, the same 345 (115 in each arm) selected participants in class three are assessed for hemoglobin, malaria parasitemia, STH and schistosome infections and classroom attention and recall. Safety and tolerability of the combined IPT is assessed at 28 days post treatment.

Data analysis- Data will be analyzed by both intention-to-treat and per-protocol employing uni-variate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
345

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

6 years to 12 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Parental informed consent and assent by schoolchildren
  • No known history of allergy to any study drug
  • Aged 6 or more years

Exclusion Criteria:

  • lack of parental informed consent and assent by schoolchildren
  • Known allergy or history of allergy to any study drug
  • Aged less than 6 years

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: AL plus ABZ; Arm 1
Artemether-Lumefantrine combination 20mg/120mg 12 hourly for 3 days oral, plus albendazole 400mg stat oral
Drug: Artemether-lumefantrine combination plus albendazole
AL: 20mg/120mg 12-hourly orally for 3 days ABZ: 400mg oral stat
Active Comparator: AL plus PZQ plus ABZ; Arm 2
artemether-lumefantrine combination 120mg/20mg 12 hourly for 3 days; plus praziquantel 40mg/kg stat; plus albendazole 400mg stat oral
Drug: Artemether-lumefantrine plus Praziquantel plus Albendazole
Artemether-lumefantrine 20mg/120mg 12 hourly for 3 days, plus praziquantel 40mg/kg stat, plus albendazole 400mg stat oral
Active Comparator: ABZ plus PZQ; Arm 3
Albendazole 400mg stat plus Praziquantel 40mg/kg stat oral
Drug: Albendazole plus Praziquantel
Albendazole 400mg stat plus Praziquantel 40mg/kg stat oral

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Prevalence and density of malaria parasites, determined by microscopy, as a measure of efficacy
Time Frame: Day 28 post intervention
Change from baseline of prevalence and density of malaria parasitemia 28 days post interventions
Day 28 post intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of participants with adverse events as a measure of safety and tolerability
Time Frame: Day 365
Number of reported adverse events within twelve months of intervention per study arm
Day 365
Number of schoolchildren with sustained attention and recall as a measure of efficacy
Time Frame: Day 365
Change in sustained classroom attention and recall in 365 days of start of intervention from baseline
Day 365
Proportion of schoolchildren with anemia as a measure of safety and tolerability
Time Frame: Day 365
Proportion of schoolchildren having hemoglobin level less than 12.0g/dl from baseline level in 365 days of start of intervention
Day 365
Prevalence and intensity of urinary schistosomiasis as a measure of efficacy
Time Frame: 365 days post first intervention
Proportion of schoolchildren with urinary schistosomiasis by study arm compared to baseline
365 days post first intervention
Prevalence and density of malaria parasites by microscopy as a measure of efficacy
Time Frame: 365 days
Proportion of schoolchildren with malaria parasitemia by study arm compared to baseline
365 days
Prevalence and intensity of intestinal schistosomiasis among schoolchildren as a measure of efficacy
Time Frame: 365 days
Proportion of schoolchildren with intestinal schistosomiasis by study arm compared to baseline
365 days

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Navrongo Health Research Centre, Ghana

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
DBL -Institute for Health Research and Development

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Ernest C Opoku, MD, MPH, Navrongo Health Research Centre, Ghana
  • Principal Investigator: Pascal Magnussen, MD, University of Copenhagen
  • Study Director: Abraham V Hodgson, MD, MPH, PhD, Navrongo Health Research Centre, Ghana
  • Principal Investigator: Edmund L Browne, MD, MPH, PhD, University of Development Studies
  • Principal Investigator: Annette Olsen, PhD, University of Copenhagen

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 1, 2010

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 1, 2011

Study Completion (Anticipated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
November 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
October 17, 2011

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 22, 2011

First Posted (Estimate)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 25, 2011

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
October 25, 2011

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 22, 2011

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2011

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • NHRCIRB098

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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