Point-of-care testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections to improve birth outcomes in high-burden, low-income settings: Study protocol for a cluster randomized crossover trial (the WANTAIM Trial, Papua New Guinea)

Authors

Andrew J. Vallely, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Papua New Guinea
William S. Pomat, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Papua New Guinea
Caroline Homer, Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Australia
Rebecca Guy, The Kirby Institute for infection and immunity in society, Australia.
Stanley Luchters, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Glen D L Mola, University of Papua New Guinea, Papua New Guinea
Grace Kariwiga, Milne Bay Provincial Health Authority, Papua New Guinea.
Lisa M. Vallely, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Papua New Guinea.
Virginia Wiseman, The Kirby Institute for infection and immunity in society, Australia.
Chris Morgan, Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Australia.
Handan Wand, The Kirby Institute for infection and immunity in society, Australia.
Stephen J. Rogerson, Doherty Institute, Australia.
Sepehr N. Tabrizi, The Royal Women's Hospital Melbourne, Australia.
David M. Whiley, University of Queensland, Australia
Nicola Low, University of Bern, witzerland.
Rosanna Peeling, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK.
Peter Siba, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Papua New Guinea
Michaela Riddell, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Papua New Guinea.
Moses Laman, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Papua New Guinea.
John Bolnga, Modilon General Hospital, Madang, Papua New Guinea.
Leanne J. Robinson, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Papua New Guinea.
Jacob Morewaya, Milne Bay Provincial Health Authority, Papua New Guinea.
Steven G. Badman, The Kirby Institute for infection and immunity in society, Australia.
Neha Batura, University College London, UK.
Angela Kelly-Hanku, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Papua New Guinea
Pamela J. Toliman, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Papua New Guinea
Wilfred Peter, Provincial Health Office, Madang, MP, Papua New Guinea.
Delly Babona, St Mary's Vunapope Rural Hospital, Papua New Guinea.
Elizabeth Peach, Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Australia.
Suzanne M. Garland, The Royal Women's Hospital Melbourne, Australia.
John M. Kaldor, The Kirby Institute for infection and immunity in society, Australia.

Document Type

Article

Department

Population Health (East Africa)

Abstract

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis and bacterial vaginosis have been associated with preterm birth and low birth weight, and are highly prevalent among pregnant women in many low- and middle-income settings. There is conflicting evidence on the potential benefits of screening and treating these infections in pregnancy. Newly available diagnostic technologies make it possible, for the first time, to conduct definitive field trials to fill this knowledge gap. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate whether antenatal point-of-care testing and immediate treatment of these curable sexually transmitted and genital infections (STIs) leads to reduction in preterm birth and low birth weight. Methods: The Women and Newborn Trial of Antenatal Interventions and Management (WANTAIM) is a cluster-randomised crossover trial in Papua New Guinea to compare point-of-care STI testing and immediate treatment with standard antenatal care (which includes the WHO-endorsed STI 'syndromic' management strategy based on clinical features alone without laboratory confirmation). The unit of randomisation is a primary health care facility and its catchment communities. The primary outcome is a composite measure of two events: the proportion of women and their newborns in each trial arm, who experience either preterm birth (delivery <37 completed weeks of gestation as determined by ultrasound) and/or low birth weight (<2500 g measured within 72 hours of birth). The trial will also evaluate neonatal outcomes, as well as the cost-effectiveness, acceptability and health system requirements of this strategy, compared with standard care. Conclusions: WANTAIM is the first randomised trial to evaluate the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, acceptability and health system requirements of point-of-care STI testing and treatment to improve birth outcomes in high-burden settings. If the intervention is proven to have an impact, the trial will hasten access to these technologies and could improve maternal and neonatal health in high-burden settings worldwide. Registration: ISRCTN37134032.

Publication (Name of Journal)

Wellcome Open Research

Recommended Citation

Vallely, A. J., Pomat, W. S., Homer, C., Guy, R., Luchters, S., Mola, G., Kariwiga, G., Vallely, L. M., Wiseman, V., Morgan, C., Wand, H., Rogerson, S. J., Tabrizi, S. N., Whiley, D. M., Low, N., Peeling, R., Siba, P., Riddell, M., Laman, M., Bolnga, J., Robinson, L. J., Morewaya, J., Badman, S. G., Batura, N., Kelly-Hanku, A., Toliman, P. J., Peter, W., Babona, D., Peach, E., Garland, S. M., Kaldor, J. M. (2019). Point-of-care testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections to improve birth outcomes in high-burden, low-income settings: Study protocol for a cluster randomized crossover trial (the WANTAIM Trial, Papua New Guinea). Wellcome Open Research, 4.
Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/eastafrica_fhs_mc_popul_health/25