1345Uptake of Intermittent Preventive Treatment for malaria during pregnancy with Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine in Malawi

Abstract

\n \n \n This study aimed to estimate the proportion of and identify factors associated with uptake of\u2009≥\u20093 doses of Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria during pregnancy with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) among pregnant women in Malawi after adoption of the 2012 updated WHO IPTp-SP policy.\n \n \n \n The 2015–16 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey dataset was re-analysed. Only 1069 women were included in the analysis from 1219 women who had live births, born after July 2015. Logistic regression was used in data analysis considering complex survey sample design.\n \n \n \n Of the 1069 women, 447 (42%) received ≥3 doses (optimal) of IPTp-SP, while 47% managed to attend ≥4 antenatal care (ANC) clinics. Only 52% received optimal SP doses among those who made ≥4 ANC visits. The number of ANC visits was associated with the optimal uptake of SP. Women who attended ANC three times only and those who visited ANC at most twice were less likely to receive optimal doses than those who managed to attend ANC ≥4 times during pregnancy (AOR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.49–1.02) and (AOR = 0.12, 95% CI 0.06–0.21) respectively.\n \n \n \n There is low uptake of optimal SP doses in Malawi. This seems to be associated with the number of ANC visits. However, there is limited effectiveness of increased number of ANC visits on the uptake of optimal SP doses.\n \n \n \n Increased number of ANC visits is not enough to increase uptake of optimal doses of IPTp-SP. There is need for continued and varied efforts.\n