Effect of intermitent preventive treatment (IPTp) using sulphadoxine pyrimethamine (SP) on birth weight Lindi region, 2009

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