DETERMINATES OF UPTAKE OF INTERMITTENT ANTI-MALARIA DRUGS AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING ANTE-NATAL CLINIC AT CHUKWUEMEKA ODUMEGWU OJUKWU UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, AWKA, ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

Malaria is a major public health that passes a huge threat to the world at large. The general public is at risk of malaria infection; however, pregnant women are at greater risk than others. This is because malaria in pregnancy is a threat to both mother and child. Malaria in pregnancy accounts for high rate of mortality of both mothers and neonates. As such, there is need to curb, if possible, eliminate malaria in pregnancy. To this effect, intermittent preventive treatment was introduced in the healthcare system. This treatment regime involves pregnant women being treated for malaria with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine, not minding if they have the ailment or not.

The study’s participants involved expectant mothers using the antenatal clinic at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka, Anambra state. A standard questionnaire was used to obtain information from the participants, who were mostly between the ages 20 and above. The variables were reported using descriptive statistics namely Chi-square test, mean and standard deviation with a significance of p>0.05 and 95% confidence range.

From the result, it was shown that respondents who did not take ITP drugs for malaria had greater prevalence of malaria in pregnancy than their colleagues who did. Out of the 523 women, 127 (24.3%) reported to have taken at least one dose of IPTp-SP, 209 (38.0%) all three doses and 53 (10.1%) double doses. Of the 171 (32.7%) who did not receive IPTp, reasons were due to medical complications and allergic reactions.

Uptake of ITPp is a means of achieving zero mortality in pregnancy from malaria. As such, expectant mothers are advised to take the doses, which can only be done during visits to the antenatal clinics. This can only be possible with increased number of visits to the antenatal clinics. Therefore, expectant mothers are advised to be faithful and regular in their visits to the antenatal clinics and also to make use of clinics with adequate facilities, so, they can have access to ITPp.

Keywords: Intermittent Anti-Malaria Drugs; Ante-Natal Clinic; Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital

DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/104-06

Publication date: November 30^th 2022