Evaluating the use of intermittent preventive malaria treatment among pregnant women in a health facility in Ghana

Background/Aims Malaria in pregnancy increases the risk of severe maternal anaemia, low birth weight and death. Sulphadoxine pyrimethamine is used to prevent malaria in pregnancy and improve maternal haemoglobin and infant birth weight. This study investigated the use of sulphadoxine pyrimethamine in the prevention of malaria in pregnancy using directly observed therapy in a sub-Metro hospital in Ghana. Methods This quantitative study involved 400 mothers who gave birth at the hospital between 1 August and 31 October 2019. Those who consented to participate were purposively and randomly sampled. A structured questionnaire, as well as a chart review of maternal records and babies' birth weights, were used to collect data. Data were analysed with descriptive paired sample t-tests, and cross-tabulations at 95% confidence intervals. Results Less than a third (31.0%) of participants knew what sulphadoxine pyrimethamine was, and only 51.5% used it. Only 13.1% took the recommended three doses. The number of doses was significantly associated with haemoglobin level (P=0.005). However, there was not a clear relationship between number of doses and infant birth weight (P=0.78). Conclusions The use of sulphadoxine pyrimethamine in preventing malaria in pregnancy using directly observed therapy is well-known in Ghana. However, actual use of this treatment should be enhanced through public education programmes.