Review on the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention implementation, effect on malaria incidence in a context of development of P. falciparum resistant genotypes with potential reduction of the effectiveness in western and central African countries

Abstract Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC), which combines amodiaquine (AQ) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), is an effective and promising strategy, recommended by WHO, for controlling malaria morbidity and mortality in areas of intense seasonal transmission. Despite this strategy, the number of malaria cases in the target group, children under five years old, has increased while the implementation of SMC will be extended in several African countries. This increase in the prevalence of malaria cases suggests the need to evaluate SMC and understand some of the factors that may hinder the success of this strategy in the intervention areas. The present review discusses the impact of SMC on target population morbidity, parasite resistance to antimalarial drugs, molecular and the immunity affecting the incidence of malaria in children under five years old. This approach will contribute to improving the malaria control strategy in highly seasonal transmission areas.