Compliance with intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy among postpartum women in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Malaria has adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes for mothers, their foetuses and newborns. The effective use of Intermittent Preventive Treatment - Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (IPT-SP) would be of benefit to these vulnerable women. The aim of this study is to assess the compliance with IPT during pregnancy among postpartum women in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Methods: The descriptive survey collected data from 346 postpartum women attending postnatal and child welfare clinics of the University College Hospital, Adeoyo Memorial Maternity Specialist Hospital and Saint Mary Catholic Hospital (all in Ibadan, Nigeria) using a questionnaire. The three settings were selected based on their high client flow and strategic locations within the reach of resident people of Ibadan (both the rich and poor). The three settings operate the traditional model of antenatal care. None of the settings provide preconception care. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for data analysis.

Results: Antenatal visit recorded among the women was marked with irregularities. Majority of the women received information on IPT during clinic visits. Nearly half of the women received other antimalaria prophylaxis apart from SP. Less than 40% of the women had good knowledge of malaria in pregnancy (MIP). Only 20.9% demonstrated positive attitudes towards the use of IPT-SP for malaria prevention. Presentation of malaria symptoms influenced the uptake of IPT significantly.

Conclusion: The study recommends integration of focused antenatal care with fewer clinic visits into the existing health care system to improve ANC service utilization. Since majority of the women accessed information on IPT during antenatal clinic visits, same should be intensified to improve its uptake and compliance among women.