Abstract:
A cross sectional study was conducted between May and June 2004 in Pangani
District. The aim of the study was to assess the implementation of intermittent
presumptive treatment using sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (IPT) during pregnancy.
The implementation was assessed in terms of coverage of IPT using SP in pregnant
women, pregnant women awareness on IPT and health workers implementation to
the national malaria control guidelines regarding IPT strategy using SP in
pregnancy.
The study comprised of 316 pregnant women attended antenatal clinic and health
workers involved in care of pregnant women at antenatal clinics. Structured
questionnaires were used to collect information from both health workers and
pregnant women.
The study has found that about 63.3% of pregnant women interviewed received at
least one dose ofSP for IPT. The uptake of second dose ofSP for IPT is 30.5%.
Irregular supply of water mentioned by health workers (70.8%), refusal of sharing
cups (66.7%) and belief of taking drug on empty stomach (92.1 %) by pregnant
women were the barriers of implementing the DOT practice oflPT with SP.
Vlll
About 59% of pregnant women were found to be aware ofIPT and vast majority of
them (96.3%) knew SP was the drug for IPT. However the majority (80%) had little
awareness on the benefit of taking SP for IPT during pregnancy.
Lack of standard guidelines for implementing the IPT strategy with SP in some of
health facilities, inadequate orientation to IPT policy using SP to health workers and
inaccurate interpretation of SP dose schedules for IPT were the deficiencies found
in the study area.
There is a need for training health workers on IPT strategy using SP and conducting
lEe campaign on IPT to improve awareness and create demands for IPT with SP in
pregnant women.
