EFFECT OF MATERNAL AGE AND EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT ON THE UPTAKE OF INTERMITTENT PREVENTIVE TREATMENT WITH SULPHADOXINEPYRIMETHAMINE AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CLINICS AT PRIMARY HEALTH CENTRES IN ORLU ZONE, IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Malaria in pregnancy continues to be a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa and a leading cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) is an effective strategy to reduce malaria-related complications, and has been recommended by the world health organization. However, uptake of the recommended doses is suboptimal in many parts of Nigeria. The study assessed the effect of maternal age and education on intermittent preventive treatment with sulphadoxine pyrimethamine use among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in primary health centres in Orlu Zone of Imo State, Nigeria. A longitudinal study was conducted among 400 pregnant women attending antenatal care services in 33 selected primary health centres in Orlu Zone. Participants were selected purposively from an estimated population of 3500 antenatal attendees. The data collection was carried out throughout pregnancy by interviewers using a validated semi-structured questionnaire to capture the IPTp-SP uptake. Descriptive statistics, percentages, tables and charts and Chi-square tests were used to analyse the data. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. The prevalence of optimal uptake of IPTp-SP was 16.75 %. Maternal age was a strong predictor of uptake. The highest uptake rate was among women aged 30–39 years (41.79%) and the lowest among adolescents ≤19 years (7.50%). Educational attainment was a significant predictor of IPTp-SP utilisation. The uptake increased progressively with higher levels of education, with women who completed senior secondary education having the highest uptake (37.50%) while women with no formal education had the lowest uptake (1.79%). Higher education attainment seemed to improve awareness, health seeking behaviour and compliance with recommendations for antenatal care. Maternal age and educational status were significant predictors of IPTp-SP uptake among pregnant women in Orlu Zone. Younger women and those with little or no formal education were less likely to achieve optimal doses of IPTp-SP. Interventions that strengthen female education, promote early attendance to antenatal care, improve health education, and implement targeted interventions for adolescent mothers may enhance IPTp-SP coverage and contribute to improved maternal and neonatal health outcomes.