Factors Influencing the Uptake of Intermittent Preventive Treatment for Malaria in Pregnancy: Evidence from Bungoma East District, Kenya

摘要

Malaria infection in pregnancy is highly risky for the mother and her fetus. Intermittent Preventive Treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine is a key intervention for malaria prevention during pregnancy. Bungoma East District falls within the malaria-endemic zone of Kenya, with an infection risk class of 20% or higher. Even though malaria accounts for about 41% of maternal deaths in the District, IPTp2 coverage remains below the Roll Back Malaria target. The objective of this study was to identify and document factors influencing the IPTp2+ uptake. To achieve this, I applied the cross-sectional survey design to guide the research process. I sourced data from 278 women who were at the 24th week or more of gestation, aged between 15 and 49 years, had not experienced malaria during the pregnancy and were not on cotrimoxazole prophylaxis. Quantitative analysis techniques included one-way analysis of variance, cross-tabulations with Chi Square statistic and binary logistic regression. The study found that women starting antenatal visits in the second month had about 10.5 times the odds of taking IPTp2+ as those initiating antenatal attendance in the sixth month of pregnancy. Again, women who mentioned health facilities as the main source of information were about 12.7 times as likely to take IPTp2+ as who relied on community health worker. Women who received support from their partners towards antenatal visits had about 8.2 times the odds of taking IPTp2+ as those who did not receive partner support. Furthermore, women dwelling within a distance of less than one hour’s walk had about 6.4 times the odds of taking IPTp2+ as those dwelling within a distance of more than 4 hour’s walk. Based on the findings, I recommend the need for better programming and content of health education sessions at the clinic; better staffing of health facilities to reduce workload and improve service quality; training health workers on customer care and sensitization of men through the media, work place paternal programs and peer education for a more active role.