Subsequently, pregnant women were seen at the antenatal clinic monthly and, for those with 32 weeks and above of gestation fortnightly. At these visits, they were actively screened for peripheral parasitaemia using OptiMAL dipstick test. At any time before delivery if the test was negative, the woman remained on daily haematinics. If women who were already enrolled had positive antigen test confirmed by microscopy, they received another course of the treatment they were initially assigned to. Women were enrolled in the study only for the first episode of malaria detected during the antenatal visit. At delivery, midwives recorded birth weights and any stillbirths, perinatal deaths or congenital abnormalities. They also made slides from peripheral, placental and cord blood and sampled maternal blood for haemoglobin measurements. Any record of a congenital deformity was verified and confirmed by a clinician. The women and their babies were visited at home at six weeks post delivery to record any neonatal adverse events such as deaths or severe morbidity.