Knowledge and Utilization of Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT) for Malaria Control Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in the Sunyani West District of Ghana

Abstract

For this study, the knowledge and utilization of Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT) for malaria control among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in the Primary Health Care Centers in the Sunyani West District of Ghana was assessed. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted to assess antenatal accessibility and practices of IPT, knowledge of pregnant women on IPT use, and the effectiveness of IPT towards the reduction of malaria in pregnancy. The researcher used both secondary and primary data to elicit information for the study. The tools for the primary data collection were structured questionnaire and focused group discussion. Data was collected in two health facilities in the Sunyani West. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20.0 and the results were presented using frequencies, graph, cross tabulation and level of association using Chi-square. The study shows that the knowledge and utilization of IPT among pregnant women in Sunyani West District were very low. Majority of the respondents (68.2%) did not have knowledge on ITP use. Thus at 95% confidence level, the proportion of those who did not have knowledge on IPT use and those who had was highly significant (p1≠P2). The major challenges that were identified to suppress the effectiveness of IPT utilization from the health care provider point of view included inadequate Antenatal Clinic trained staff, low facility coverage and late ANC reporting of pregnant women. This study, therefore, recommends that healthcare providers in the district should intensify education on the use of Intermittent Preventive Treatment of malaria in pregnant women through community durbars, and radio and Television programs.

Uptake of four or more doses of sulfadoxine pyrimethamine for intermittent preventive treatment of malaria during pregnancy in Zambia: findings from the 2018 malaria in pregnancy survey

“…However, the adjusted analysis showed that, compared with the youthful mothers (15–24 years), those aged between 25 and 34 years were less likely to take four or more doses of IPTp-SP. This finding contradicts previous studies34 35 which revealed that younger women are less likely to use health services due to inadequate access to information and communication channels used for IPTp-SP promotion which are necessary for the uptake of IPTp-SP. For example, a study conducted in Ghana35 reported low uptake of the recommended dose of IPTp-SP among the youth.…”

“…This finding contradicts previous studies34 35 which revealed that younger women are less likely to use health services due to inadequate access to information and communication channels used for IPTp-SP promotion which are necessary for the uptake of IPTp-SP. For example, a study conducted in Ghana35 reported low uptake of the recommended dose of IPTp-SP among the youth. Many youth often hide their pregnancies and start their ANC late, when they cannot take the recommended doses before delivery.…”

Malaria knowledge and its associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic of Adis Zemen Hospital, North-western Ethiopia, 2018

“…However; different studies reveal that practice of malaria preventive measure and health-seeking behavior of the community are related to the level of knowledge. Having a good knowledge regarding malaria cause, mode of transmission, sign and symptom, the effect of malaria on pregnancy and prevention of malaria leads to use malaria prevention mechanism and increase health-seeking behavior [23–24, 27–30]. In Ethiopia, women’s level of practice on malaria preventive measure is too poor [23,24,26,29].…”

Factors Influencing the Utilization of Intermittentpreventive Treatment for Malaria Control During Pregnancy Among Mothers of Under One Children in Rural Lilongwe, Malawi

“…Findings from two different studies in Ghana revealed that knowledge on IPTp-SP, such as the timing and scheduling of IPTp-SP and the consequences of MiP, was a determinant of IPTp-SP receipt. Women with good level of knowledge were more likely to return for subsequent SP doses which eventually determined the number of doses received (Ayiisi Evans A., 2017;Stephen et al, 2016).…”