FACTORS AFFECTING UTILIZATION OF INTERMITTENT PREVENTIVE TREATMENT IN PREGNANCY AMONG ANTENATAL WOMEN IN BOWEN UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, OGBMOSHO, OYO STATE

Introduction: Malaria in pregnancy remains a leading cause of maternal anemia, low birth weight, and perinatal mortality in Nigeria, a high-burden country where intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is recommended by WHO for ≥3 doses starting in the second trimester. Aim: This study on factors affecting IPTp utilization at Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, addresses a critical evidence gap in Nigeria's malaria control efforts, where national NDHS data reveal persistently low optimal uptake despite the WHO policy. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined knowledge, utilization, and factors influencing IPTp among pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) at Bowen University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. The target population comprised ANC attendees, estimated at 240 monthly, with a sample of 165 pregnant women ≥13 weeks of gestation, who were systematically and randomly sampled. Data collection utilized validated, researcher-developed Questionnaire on Knowledge, Utilization, and Factors Affecting Utilization of IPTp (QKUFAU-IPTp), administered interviewer-assisted over four weeks. Knowledge/utilization was scored dichotomously (≥70% good, <70% poor) against WHO standards. Reliability established via test-retest with a score of 0.87. Data were analyzed using SPSS v25: frequencies/percentages for descriptives, chi-square for factors (p<0.05). Results: Findings indicate that 61.8% of participants had good knowledge, yet persistent errors occurred in timing and intervals. Vaccine uptake reached 75.2% for any dose, but only 8.5% completed all three doses. Strong influences included ANC attendance (73.3%) and education (72.1%), while barriers encompassed stockouts (42.7%), costs (24.2%), and preferences (42.7% for ITNs). No significant link emerged between knowledge and utilization (p=0.165), underscoring access and beliefs as primary drivers. Conclusion: These results affirm that while awareness exists, systemic and perceptual barriers limit IPTp effectiveness in this setting, aligning with Nigeria's suboptimal NDHS coverage and Health Belief Model predictions of modifiable threats and cues. Addressing them could substantially reduce malaria-related maternal-fetal risks at teaching hospitals, advancing WHO targets in endemic regions.