Assessing nursing mothers’ knowledge, perceptions and uptake of Sulphadoxine Pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) during pregnancy in the Ho Teaching Hospital of the Volta Region of Ghana

Abstract

Intermittent preventive therapy during pregnancy with Sulphadoxine Pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) is one of the potent strategies for preventing malaria in pregnancy (MiP). Factors such as the pregnant woman’s knowledge and very importantly perception or belief about IPTp-SP remains key determinant of IPTp-SP uptake. This study assessed the knowledge and perception of nursing mothers and their uptake of IPTp-SP during pregnancy in the Ho Teaching Hospital. We administered a close-ended questionnaire to 303 nursing mothers and obtained their sociodemographic details as well as information on their knowledge and perception of IPTp-SP utilization. We also reviewed the nursing mothers’ antenatal care (ANC) booklets to ascertain the number of times IPTp-SP was taken during pregnancy. Pearson chi-square was used to determine the association between the sociodemographic variable and the categories of knowledge, perception, and uptake of IPTp-SP. Analysis, was done using SPSS, and the p-value of less than 5% was considered statistically significant. Of the 303 nursing mothers sampled in this study, 265(87.5%) had heard about IPTp-SP of which 138(52.1%) had average knowledge of IPTp-SP. A total of 168(63.4%) had poor perception, and 168(64.6%) had adequate uptake (3–4 doses) of IPTp. Education was significantly associated with perception and uptake, with the majority of women who demonstrated excellent perception were those who had tertiary education (7, 6.35%, p = 0.05), and the majority who demonstrated excellent uptake (5 completed doses) were women who had tertiary education (47, 37.9%, p = 0.01). While knowledge was average, perception of IPTp-SP was poor for the majority of the nursing mothers which might have hampered their uptake of IPTp-SP during pregnancy. It is important that continuous assessment of the individual factors affecting the uptake of IPTp-SP be done regularly to curb the negative influences on the uptake of IPTp-SP.

Knowledge, Uptake and Therapeutic Effectiveness of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) among Pregnant Women Attending the Antenatal Clinic at Ayeduase Health Centre in Oforikrom Municipality in the Ashanti-Region, Ghana

“…Assessing the knowledge of respondents on IPTp, this study found that 187 (100%) pregnant women had ever heard of IPTp. Similarly, a study conducted in the Volta Region, Ghana, also found that approximately 265 (87.5%) pregnant women had heard of IPTp [27]. The majority (177, 94.7%) correctly knew that IPTp-SP was a drug for preventing malaria in pregnancy, and this finding was similar to a study conducted in the Volta Region of Ghana and Tanzania, which found that more pregnant women reported that the drug prevents malaria in pregnancy [28,29].…”

Interventions for malaria prevention in pregnancy; factors influencing uptake and their effect on pregnancy outcomes among post-natal women in a tertiary facility in the Volta Region of Ghana

“…The uptake of optimal doses in the current study far exceeds the 64.5% and 71.0% reported in some Ghanaian studies 26,40 but comparable to the 2019 report of 80.7% in Sekondi-Tarkoradi also in Ghana. 24 It is, however, lower than the 95% reported among post-partum women about a year earlier at the same study site 32 and this calls for operational research into the seeming reduction in uptake of optimal IPTp-SP doses at HTH. Age >25 years, employment and good knowledge of MiP facilitated uptake of optimal IPTp-SP doses while starting ANC later than 13 weeks was a barrier.…”

“…Literature review showed two studies that reported on uptake of either ITNs or IPTp-SP but not both in the Ho Municipality. 28,32 A 42.5% ITN utilization was reported among antenatal care (ANC) attendants in the municipality in 2016 with higher educational level being a significant facilitator 28 while the second study found that 95% of post-partum women received 3–5 doses of IPTp-SP in 2021. 32 The present study was conducted among post-natal care (PNC) attendants at the Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH) to primarily assess current uptake of the two MiP interventions and the factors influencing them.…”

“…28,32 A 42.5% ITN utilization was reported among antenatal care (ANC) attendants in the municipality in 2016 with higher educational level being a significant facilitator 28 while the second study found that 95% of post-partum women received 3–5 doses of IPTp-SP in 2021. 32 The present study was conducted among post-natal care (PNC) attendants at the Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH) to primarily assess current uptake of the two MiP interventions and the factors influencing them. The study further explored the effects of these interventions on pregnancy outcomes such as birthweight, preterm delivery and maternal anaemia at 36–40 weeks gestation.…”