Provider Knowledge and Acceptability of Malaria Treatment Strategies in Pregnancy
Author Information
Author(s): Smith Paintain Lucy, Antwi Gifty D., Jones Caroline, Amoako Esther, Adjei Rose O., Afrah Nana A., Greenwood Brian, Chandramohan Daniel, Tagbor Harry, Webster Jayne
Primary Institution: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Hypothesis
How does provider knowledge and acceptance of intermittent screening and treatment (IST) compare to intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) for malaria in pregnancy?
Conclusion
The study found that while provider knowledge of malaria treatment policies is generally high, there are significant gaps in knowledge regarding specific treatment protocols, particularly for quinine in the first trimester.
Supporting Evidence
- 88.1% of providers knew all elements of the SP-IPT policy.
- Only 50.8% of providers correctly identified quinine as the treatment for uncomplicated malaria in the first trimester.
- 78.4% of providers correctly identified AS–AQ as the treatment for malaria in the second and third trimesters.
Takeaway
This study looked at how much health workers know about treating malaria in pregnant women and found that many know the right treatments, but some still have important gaps in their knowledge.
Methodology
Structured interviews and health facility audits were conducted to assess provider knowledge and practices regarding malaria treatment in pregnancy.
Limitations
The qualitative data were collected from facilities involved in the Ashanti IST trial, which may not represent all ANC providers in the region.
Participant Demographics
The majority of health workers interviewed were female (97.8%) with a median age of 48 years.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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