The Use Of Sulpiiadoxine Pyrimethamine As Intermittent Preventive Treatment For Malaria In Pregnancy: A Study At The Kpeshie Sub Metropolis

ABSTRACT In most endemic areas of the world, pregnant women are the main adult risk group for malaria. They are four times more likely to suffer attacks of symptomatic malaria than other adults. Malaria in pregnancy increases the risk of severe maternal anaemia, low birth weight and death. Studies have shown that Sulphadoxine Pyrimethamine prevents malaria in pregnancy and improves maternal haemoglobin and infant birth weight. The study investigated the use of Sulphadoxine Pyrimethamine in the prevention of malaria in pregnancy using the Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) in the Kpeshie sub-Metropolis. A quantitative research design was used. A total of 400 mothers who delivered at the La General hospital within the study period and consented to participate were recruited into this study using purposive sampling. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data, chart review of maternal records and babies’ birth weight was also carried out. Data were analy sed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 16. The study established that the Directly Observed Therapy using Sulphadoxine Pyrimethamine is not being properly followed as stipulated by the Ghana Health Sendee. Majority of the mothers (69%) indicated knowledge of the use of Sulphadoxine Pyrimethamine during pregnancy but only 51 % of them actually used it. Only 13.1 % of the mothers took the recommended three doses of the SP. The number of times a mother took the SP the better her haemoglobin level (p = 0.005). Finally, this study did not establish any clear relationship between the number of times a participant took SP and their infant birth weight (p = 0.78). In conclusion, the use of Sulphadoxine Pyrimethamine in preventing malaria in pregnancy using the Directly Observed therapy is well known in Ghana but its use needs to be enhanced through proper education of both the Service Providers and the Pregnant women.