ABSTRACT
Malaria remains the most devastating human parasitic infection in the world today. In Nigeria, malaria during pregnancy is responsible for 11% of maternal mortality. There is low coverage and utilization of IPT services in Nigeria. This study was undertaken to investigate the knowledge and utilization of IPT among pregnant women attending ANC in Jigawa State. A cross-sectional study was conducted and 420 respondents were recruited using multistage sampling technique. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demographic and knowledge of malaria and IPT. A total of 420 pregnant were interviewed with age ranged of 15 to 45 years (Mean 24.7�6.1). Majority 257 (61.2%) of the respondents were within age group 20-29 years. Sixty four (15.2%) were Primigravidae, 229 (54.5%) were multigravidae and 127 (30.3%) were grand multipara. Majority 413 (98.3%) were married with divorcee and widow making 7 (1.7%) none was single. Most respondents 307 (73.1%) were rural dwellers. Sixteen percent had at least secondary education; the majority either had Quranic (45.2%) or Non formal education (24.5%) at all. Most of the respondents (80.7%) were Hausa some 42 (10.0% were Fulani, Kanuri (6.4%) few 2.9%) is formed by other languages. Majority of the respondents were fulltime House wife, few were Civil servants others (18.3%) engage in some petty trading at home. In general, after scoring respondents' knowledge of malaria transmission, consequences of malaria to pregnant women and her unborn baby and knowledge of malaria prevention in pregnancy. Majority 221 (52.6%) had poor knowledge of malaria. However, most of the xvi respondents have very good knowledge of how malaria transmitted and method of malaria prevention in pregnancy. Majority of those that used SP in their index pregnancy 64 (80.0%) had poor knowledge of SP. Participants that used two or more doses of SP was 1.4% this study found that there is poor IPT utilization among the pregnant women. Gestational age at 1st ANC booking and marital status were found to be positvely associated with the number of SP doses received by pregnant women. Those women paying less than one hundred naira (N100) for transportation to clinic are 2 times more likely to recieve up to two (2) doses of SP compared to those paying one hundred and above. However, this was not statistically significant (OR 2.2 and p = 0.40). Rural residents were more likely not to receive up to two (2) doses of SP (OR 0.1 and p=0.04). primigavidas were also not likely to have good utilization of SP (OR 0.0 and p= undefined.) None of the socio-demographic variables was found to be a predictor receiving up to two more doses of SP The IPTp program is been implemented in Jigawa State. However, its success is yet to be achieved as seen from the low IPT knowledge and very low IPT utilization accounting for 20% and 1.4% respectively. A further research to assess health care provider's knowledge and training on IPT implementation including attitude of staff should be conducted by Jigawa State Ministry of health and partners in order to have more insight into reason for this lower coverage.