Hycentha DIENGOU NGWENE1
1Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plant Studies Yaounde, Cameroun
CaHReF 2018, Yaoundé Congres hall, 08 – 11 January 2019 , OSAV002
Background: The policy for intermittent preventive treatment (IPTp) by WHO, states that pregnant women reporting for ANC should be given at least three doses of IPTp between the 16th and 36 weeks of pregnancy. Implementation of IPTp policy has faced various challenges making the targeted coverage far from being achieved
Objectif: To investigate the coverage of IPTp and assess factors associated with the uptake of IPTp among pregnant women attending ANCs in the Bamenda health district
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out where interviewer guided questionnaires were administered to 400 pregnant women in their third trimester of pregnancy (262 from the urban areas and 138 from the peri-urban areas) and 39 healthcare workers in all registered health facilities in Bamenda.
Results: The uptake rates for 0,1, 2, and 3 doses for the urban and peri urban areas were 4.5%, 13.5 %, 26.4%, 60.1% and 3.0%, 10.9%, 26.6% and 62.5% respectively.The pregnant woman's knowledge on IPTp was associated with an increase uptake of IPTp (<0.001) with odds of (OR=1.21, CI=1.065-1.180). All health care providers knew the function of IPTp although 35.9% reported not receiving any training on IPTp. Amongst the health providers, 28.2% did not know when to start and 43.59% when to stop IPTp. 30.77% of health providers complained of drug shortages and 84.62% practised the policy of direct observed therapy.
Conclusion/Recommandation: Coverage of IPTp for at least one dose is high (95.9 %). Uptake of the recommended three doses for IPTp is high (61.3%) Pregnant woman€Ÿs knowledge on IPTp was the only factor significantly associated with IPTp uptake in the study.DOT is effective in Bamenda health district as most health providers and women practice direct observe therapy. it is recommended that health providers should be trained yearly on new policies and education encouraged during ANCs
Key Words: Malaraia, Pregnancy, Intermittent, Coverage, Preventive.