Abstract:
Introduction
Malaria is a major problem In pregnancy in Tanzania and is associated with maternal
anaemia, premature delivery, and intrauterine growth retardation resulting in delivery of
low birth weight (LBW) infants. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that
all women living in sub-Saharan Africa with stable malaria transmission to receive
Intermittent Preventive Treatment during pregnancy (lPTp). The first dose of IPTp (IPTp-
I) is administered between 20-24 weeks of gestational age; the second dose ofIPTp (IPTp-
IT) should be administered at 28-36 weeks. Increase SP resistance, little is known about the
effects of IPTp also the SP has been changed as the first line treatment but still has been
used. This study intends to look into the effects ofIPTp on a number of malaria indicators.
Methodology
It was a cross- sectional analytical study of pregnant women delivering at Sokoine hospital
Lindi Region between November 2009 and January 2010 were recruited into the study.
The hospital was conveniently selected due to high number of pregnant women delivering
at the hospital. Data regarding their pregnancies were collected at maternity ward on
admission and after complete routine examinations. Data collected included information on
maternal social demographic characteristics, mosquito net use, reproductive information,
previous delivery outcomes and HIV status of pregnant women. Estimated sample size was
246 pregnant women. Data was double entered and checked for errors before being
analysed by Epi Info version 2: 5: 1: software.
Results
The overall mean age of this study population was 26.2 years, with median 25 years and
range 14 - 47 years. In these study 246 pregnant women 50% had not taken IPTp (SP)
during their entire pregnancy. Total of 50% were gravida 3 and beyond and 98% pregnant
women was GA above 36wks and 46% did not attended any form of education. For HIV
status 4% pregnant women were HIV infected. A total of 35% had not attended ANC
