Factors Associated with Intermittent Preventive Treatment of Malaria During Pregnancy in Mali

Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) with 3 or more doses of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is recommended by the World Health Organization to prevent malaria in pregnant women living in high-risk areas. According to the 2015 malaria indicator survey in Mali, malaria prevalence is 34.6%. The high risk of malaria among pregnant women and children led the Malian government to provide free SP during antenatal clinics visits. The Malian National Program of Malaria Control recommends at least 3 doses during pregnancy. The proportion of pregnant women taking 3 or more doses of IPTp-SP (IPTp 3+) still remains low. In Mali, only 36.7% of pregnant women with a live birth in the past 2 yr received IPTp 3+. To investigate the factors associated with this low coverage, we carried out a secondary data analysis using the database of the Mali 2015 Malaria Indicator Survey. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze these factors among 2,382 interviewed women. Taking less than 3 doses was higher among women below 20 yr (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI, 1.03; 1.98]); however, media accessibility (listening to radio) (AOR = 0.71, 95% CI [0.53-0.95]) and residing in Segou (AOR = 0.56, 95% CI [0.35-0.90]) seem to favor the opposite after adjusting the potential confusion. Residence, educational level, and wealth index were not statistically associated with taking 3 doses of IPTp-SP. This study identifies that women less than 20 yr of age were significantly associated with taking lower than 3 doses of IPTp-SP.