AWARENESS AND UPTAKE OF INTERMITTENT PREVENTIVE TREATMENT OF MALARIA IN PREGNANCY AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CLINIC IN A TERTIARY HEALTH CENTRE IN DELTA STATE NIGERIA

Introduction: Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) is indicated for all expectant mothers in malaria-endemic areas. This study examined the awareness and uptake of IPTp among women attending an antenatal clinic in Delta State, Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at a referral hospital in Delta State, Nigeria. The respondents (n = 201) were randomly sampled from pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic. A validated and reliable questionnaire was administered to obtain data on socio-demographic variables, level of awareness, and IPTp uptake. Hypotheses were tested at an alpha level of 0.05 using the Chi-square test, and data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0.

Results: Almost 80% of the respondents were aware of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy. However, only 62.7% reported using IPTp in their present or previous pregnancies. Eighty-seven percent of IPTp users (n = 126) rated its efficacy as either “excellent” or “good.” There was a significant association (p = 0.015) between respondents’ level of education and awareness of IPTp. A positive but non-significant association was found between level of education and IPTp use (p > 0.05). Other socio-demographic variables such as age, parity, and occupation were not associated with awareness or use of IPTp.

Conclusion: The uptake of IPTp among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics is below recommended levels. Interventions to increase awareness and uptake are encouraged.