Improving the quality of life of pregnant women using the intermittent preventive treatment with sulphadoxine pyrimethamine (IPT-SP): Experiences from Dangme West District, Ghana

Abstract

The impact of intermittent preventive treatment (IPTp) as a strategy for malaria control and the extent to which it improves the quality of life of pregnant women and outcome of pregnancy in the Dangme West district, Ghana was assessed by conducting a cross-sectional descriptive study. One hundred (100) pregnant women were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling from 21 communities. The study utilized both qualitative and quantitative methods in assessing the impact of IPTp. In addition to the above, data was also collected through desk top reviews of HCFs’ records, the district’s health annual reports, published and unpublished literature, textbooks, etc. IPTp strategy is doing very well as a strategy for malaria control and management in pregnancy in the district. The outcome of pregnancy has improved significantly but due to late assumption of antenatal care many women do not get the requisite dosage to realise the full potential of the IPTp therapy. Community participation should be enhanced to realise the full potential of the IPT-SP strategy.