Adherence to intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in pregnancy

Abstract

Malaria during pregnancy is a serious health risk for pregnant women; it is associated with maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. In Uganda, Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT) for prevention of Malaria in pregnancy, coverage one and two are still low standing at 61%, 38% respectively. To identify client-related, health worker-related and health-related factors affecting adherence to IPT. A descriptive cross-sectional study involving 222 pregnant women and 15 health workers was undertaken in Kampala City Council (KCC) health centre IV (Kawempe, Naguru and Kiruddu), Data was collected using interview guided and self-administered questionnaires and checklist. Only 21% of pregnant women were told about the use of drugs to prevent malaria; 31.5% knew the recommended drug used in prevention of malaria in pregnancy; while 4.5% knew the fansidar recommended doses taken. Over 95% of pregnant women reported no health education was given to them concerning IPT. Surprisingly only 34.4% took fansidar under observation by a health worker. Guidelines on malaria in pregnancy were not referred to and only 1.6% of health workers were trained in the last six months. Generally all the three heath units lacked cups, kettles, posters on prevention of malaria in pregnancy and IPT. Awareness and use of IPT among pregnant women in KCC health units was very low. Health workers knew the importance of IPT but practice as directly observed therapy was poor. KCC should strengthen campaigns for IPT, support training and supervise health workers.

Factors influencing uptake of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy using sulphadoxine pyrimethamine in Sunyani Municipality, Ghana

“…This study result is not different from results of other studies which reported that knowledge of IPTp is significantly related to uptake of IPTp [ 19 , 21 , 23 ]. It is therefore not surprising that studies that reported low level of knowledge of IPT among pregnant women resulted in low uptake of IPTp [ 24 ]. This probably explains why health education among pregnant women on IPTp will better improve their knowledge level and increase uptake.…”

Factors Influencing the Uptake of Intermittent Preventive Treatment for Malaria in Pregnancy: Evidence from Bungoma East District, Kenya

“…In their study, [17] found that only 21% of the participants had received information about IPTp, of which only 31.5% knew the recommended drugs for IPTp and only 4.5% knew the recommended dose. The study found that over 60% of the participants did not receive health education on IPTp, resulting to low IPTp coverage [17].…”

“…In their study, [17] found that only 21% of the participants had received information about IPTp, of which only 31.5% knew the recommended drugs for IPTp and only 4.5% knew the recommended dose. The study found that over 60% of the participants did not receive health education on IPTp, resulting to low IPTp coverage [17]. Other studies such as [18] and [19] also confirm that knowledge about IPTp remains low among pregnant women in developing countries, which suggests that ANC facilities are not doing enough on sensitization.…”