Assessment of Implementation of Intermittent Presumptive Treatment (IPT) using Sulfadoxide/ Pyrimethamine (SP) for Malaria Control in Pregnancy in Pangani District, Tanzania

A cross sectional study was conducted between May and June 2004 in Pangani District. The aim of the study was to assess the implementation of intermittent presumptive treatment using sulfadoxine/ pyrimethamine (IPT) during pregnancy. The implementation was assessed in terms of coverage of IPT using SP in pregnant women, pregnant women awareness on IPT and health workers implementation to the national malaria control guidelines regarding IPT strategy using SP in pregnancy. The study comprised of 316 pregnant women attended antenatal clinic and health workers involved in case of pregnant women at antenatal clinics. Structures questionnaires were used to collect information from both health workers and pregnant women. The study has found that about 63.3% pregnant women interviewed received at least one close of AP for IPT. The uptake of second dose of SP for IPT is 30.5 %. Irregular supply of water mentioned by health workers (70.8%), refusal of sharing cups (66.7%) and belief of taking drug on empty stomach (92.1%) by pregnant women were the barriers of implementing the DOT practice of IPT with SP. About 59% of pregnant women were found to be aware of IPT and vast majority of them (96.3%) knew SP was the drug for IPT. However the majority (80%) had little awareness on the benefit of taking SP for IPT during pregnancy. Lack of standard guidelines for implanting the IPT strategy with in some of health facilities, inadequate orientation to IPT policy using SP to health workers and inaccurate interpretation of SP dose schedules for IPT were the deficiencies found in the study area. There is a need for training health workers on IPT strategy using SP and conducting IEC campaign on IPT to improve awareness and create demands for IPT with SP in pregnant women.