title: Characteristics of Nigerian women taking sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine twice during pregnancy for the prevention of malaria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the characteristics of women in Nigeria who are likely to take sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP) as recommended for the prevention of malaria in pregnancy to reduce maternal and child mortality rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey of 1380 women was conducted using a structured questionnaire. The women had given birth within 6months prior to the survey and were drawn from 6 local government areas in Nigeria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several demographic factors-older age bracket, ever attended school, currently living with a partner, ever married, and wealth-were significantly associated with compliance. Compliance was higher among respondents who had ever been married than among those who had never been married (χ(2)=6.733; P=0.006). Compliance was also higher among those in paid employment (χ(2)=17.110; P<0.001) and those in a higher wealth quintile (χ(2)=34.861; P<0.001). Knowledge of malaria, which included prevention of malaria in pregnancy through use of IPTp with 2 doses of SP, showed a positive association with compliance. Compliance with 2 doses of SP among those with good knowledge was higher (63.9%) than among those with poor knowledge (46.9%) (χ(2)=26.981; P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings could help in targeting health education programs to specific subgroups of women to increase compliance with the recommended 2 doses of SP for the prevention of malaria in pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. Electronic address: nkechux@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Nkechi G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Onyeneho
authors.forename: Bright C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Orji
authors.forename: Joseph C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Okeibunor
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Brieger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D046688:Child Mortality; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011739:Pyrimethamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013413:Sulfadoxine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D004338:Drug Combinations; C001205:fanasil, pyrimethamine drug combination; D013413:Sulfadoxine; D011739:Pyrimethamine
keywords: Intermittent preventive treatment; Malaria; Nigeria; Pregnancy; Sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine