Abstract:

Introduction: Malaria in pregnancy (MiP) is one of the major public health problems as it contributes to maternal morbidity, mortality and poor birth outcomes. However, the WHO recommends the implementation of Intermittent Preventive Treatment of malaria for pregnant women by using Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) as one of the ways to reduce the burden. Three or more doses are recommended for better outcome (good utilization of the IPTp-SP). The aim of this study was to determine prevalence and factors affecting utilization of IPTp-SP among postpartum women in BMC, Mwanza, Tanzania.

Methods: This was a cross section hospital-based study conducted in December (2022) to March 2023 in Bugando Medical Center Data were collected in the obstetrics and gynecology department in the postnatal wards among postpartum mothers who had term pregnancies. Data were entered in the computer and analyzed by SPSS version 20.0. Categorical data were described in proportion (%), Factors affecting utilization will be established using chi-square and p-value less than 0.05 will be considered as significant.

Results: A total of 385 women met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study. More than half of the participants were in the age between 20-30 years. More than half of the participants (53.2%) had taken optimal dose (3 or more) for IPTp-SP. On factors affecting the utilization of IPTp-SP, we found a relationship between age, education level, age, , parity, number of ANC attendance, residency, knowledge of IPTp-SP and distance from health facility (p-value <0.05). Marital status was not associated with utilization of IPTp-SP (p-value>0.05).

Conclusion: Successful implementation of the IPTp strategy can be achieved by improving access to prenatal care, patient provider communication to enhance adequate knowledge on dosing and IPTp-SP benefit to mother and child but also advising women to attend four or more ANC visits.