Impact of seasonal RTS,S/AS01E vaccination plus seasonal malaria chemoprevention on the nutritional status of children in Burkina Faso and Mali
Authors: Grant Jane , Sagara Issaka , Zongo Issaka , Cairns Matthew , Yerbanga Rakiswendé Serge , Diarra Modibo , Zoungrana Charles , Issiaka Djibrilla , Nikièma Frédéric , Sompougdou Frédéric , Tapily Amadou , Kaya Mahamadou , Haro Alassane , Sanogo Koualy , Sienou Abdoul Aziz , Traore Seydou , Thera Ismaila , Yalcouye Hama , Kuepfer Irene , Snell Paul , Milligan Paul , Ockenhouse Christian , Ofori-Anyinam Opokua , Tinto Halidou , Djimde Abdoulaye , Chandramohan Daniel , Greenwood Brian , Dicko Alassane , Ouédraogo Jean-Bosco 
Published: February 2022

Background

A recent trial in Burkina Faso and Mali showed that combining seasonal RTS,S/AS01Emalaria vaccination with seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) substantially reduced the incidence of uncomplicated and severe malaria in young children compared to either intervention alone. Given the possible negative effect of malaria on nutrition, the study investigated whether these children also experienced lower prevalence of acute and chronic malnutrition.

Methods

In Burkina Faso and Mali 5920 children were randomized to receive either SMC alone, RTS,S/AS01Ealone, or SMC combined with RTS,S/AS01Efor three malaria transmission seasons (2017–2019). After each transmission season, anthropometric measurements were collected from all study children at a cross-sectional survey and used to derive nutritional status indicators, including the binary variables wasted and stunted (weight-for-height and height-for-age z-scores below − 2, respectively). Binary and continuous outcomes between treatment groups were compared by Poisson and linear regression.

Results

In 2017, compared to SMC alone, the combined intervention reduced the prevalence of wasting by approximately 12% [prevalence ratio (PR) = 0.88 (95% CI 0.75, 1.03)], and approximately 21% in 2018 [PR = 0.79 (95% CI 0.62, 1.01)]. Point estimates were similar for comparisons with RTS,S/AS01E, but there was stronger evidence of a difference. There was at least a 30% reduction in the point estimates for the prevalence of severe wasting in the combined group compared to the other two groups in 2017 and 2018. There was no difference in the prevalence of moderate or severe wasting between the groups in 2019. The prevalence of stunting, low-MUAC-for-age or being underweight did not differ between groups for any of the three years. The prevalence of severe stunting was higher in the combined group compared to both other groups in 2018, and compared to RTS,S/AS01Ealone in 2017; this observation does not have an obvious explanation and may be a chance finding. Overall, malnutrition was very common in this cohort, but declined over the study as the children became older.

Conclusions

Despite a high burden of malnutrition and malaria in the study populations, and a major reduction in the incidence of malaria in children receiving both interventions, this had only a modest impact on nutritional status. Therefore, other interventions are needed to reduce the high burden of malnutrition in these areas.

Trial registration:https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03143218, registered 8th May 2017.