title: Prevalence of intermittent preventive treatment with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) use during pregnancy and other associated factors in Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) has been adopted as policy by most countries in sub-Saharan Africa. This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence of IPTp-SP usage for prevention of malaria among pregnant women as well as evaluated factors associated with IPTp-SP use during pregnancy in Sekondi-Takoradi region of Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant women attending their antenatal-care with either clinical/ultrasound evidence of pregnancy were recruited. Venous blood was screened for malaria using RAPID response antibody kit and Giemsa staining. Haemoglobin estimations were done by cyanmethemoglobin method while Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) screening was performed by the national diagnostic algorithm of two rapid antibody test and western blot confirmation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 754 consented pregnant women interviewed in this study, 57.8% had received IPTp-SP while 42.2% had not at their first contact with the study personnel. Furthermore, 18.6% (81/436) of those that received IPTp-SP were malaria positive while 81.4% (355/436) were malaria negative. The results also indicated that 47.7% (51/107) of the pregnant women in their third trimester who were meant to have received at least two-doses of SP had received ≥2 doses while 35.5% (38/107) had received 1 dose. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, pregnant women in their third trimester who received ≥2 doses of SP showed decreased likelihoods of malaria (adjusted OR, 0.042; 95% CI, 0.003-0.51; P = 0.013).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IPTp-SP usage among pregnant women in Sekondi-Takoradi reduces malaria and its use for malaria prevention should be strengthened with proper dosage completion and coverage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital Sekondi-Takoradi, Sekondi P. O. Box 229, Western Region, Ghana.
authors.forename: Verner N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Orish
authors.affiliation: The Satcher Health Leadership Institute, Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Onyekachi S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Onyeabor
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Central Region, Ghana.
authors.forename: Johnson N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Boampong
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Central Region, Ghana.
authors.forename: Richmond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Afoakwah
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute, Atomic Energy Commission, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Ekene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nwaefuna
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Acquah
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Idi-araba, PMB 12003 Lagos, Nigeria; Saint James School of Medicine, Anguilla, BWI.
authors.forename: Adekunle O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Sanyaolu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Idi-araba, PMB 12003 Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Nnaemeka C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Iriemenam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011739:Pyrimethamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013413:Sulfadoxine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D004338:Drug Combinations; C001205:fanasil, pyrimethamine drug combination; D013413:Sulfadoxine; D011739:Pyrimethamine
keywords: Ghana; IPTp-SP; Malaria in pregnancy; anaemia