Akaninyene Mark
Citation: Akaninyene Mark (2025)From knowledge to uptake of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria among pregnant women attending private clinics in Uyo local government area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Frontline Professionals Journal 2(3), 39-49
ABSTRACT
Background: Malaria during pregnancy poses a considerable public health concern, carrying substantial risks for both the expectant mother and her newborn, and it is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. This study assesses knowledge and IPTp uptake among pregnant women attending a private clinic in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state
Methodology: The study was a cross-sectional study carried out among 327 participants using interviewer administered questionnaire for data collection. The data was subjected into SPSS IBM version 24 software for analysis and the results were presented in table of frequencies. Ethical approval was obtained from the University Of Port Harcourt School Of Public Health, permission was gotten from head of private facilities selected for the study.
Results: A total of 327 respondents participated in the study. The majority of respondents, 237 (79%), know what IPTp is. On availability, 52% claimed that the IPTp drug is always available in the health facility. The majority of respondents (49.0%) have the age of their pregnancy between 7-9 months. While most started ANC within that period, more than 4 months affected 185 (61.7%), and so affected the normal absorption of IPTp at the health facility. 228 (76%) have collaborated with the uptake of IPTp in the institution since the ANC. 35.7% of responses said that IPTp was taken in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. A total of 32 (10.7%) respondents indicated that they had challenges of one sort or another in the intake of IPTp. While the majority of them identified miscarriage and low birth weight (31.3% and 28.3%), respectively, as serious concerns. The majority of respondents (99%) claimed that they were not observed by healthcare personnel while taking IPTp. The unavailability of clean water was the top reason respondents claimed not to take IPTp utilizing the DOT approach.
Conclusion: Many pregnant women recognize the inconsistent barriers related to malaria during pregnancy (IPTp), but fail to grasp the significance of early attendance at prenatal clinics, timely involvement in ANC services, or the importance of receiving effective IPTp medication and adhering to the correct dosage regimen. The unavailability of potable water in the hospital was an excellent challenge in clarifying the reason IPTp is not being captured as Directly Observed Therapy, therefore, there is a need for the provision of potable water and cups to ANC hospitals, as this will advance correct consumption of SP in the hospitals and improve uptake of IPTp.
Keyword: Pregnancy, Malaria, treatment, intermittent