This study was descriptive cross-sectional Hospital-based.

· Medical record of pregnant women who had received IPTp-SP during their ANC visit at Benadir Hospital from January 2018 to December 2020.

· The target population was pregnant women at 13 weeks to 36 weeks of who attended the antenatal clinic at Benadir hospital wadajir district Benadir region Somalia during the period of the study from April 2021-July 2021.

Benadir Hospital is the biggest maternal and child health hospital in capital city Mogadishu Somalia. The hospital has departments, and sub-units that deal with different healthcare aspects. Maternity ward; pediatrics ward, Neonate unit, ANC unit, PNC unit, delivery unit, OT unit, OPD unit, Family planning unit, Isolation unit, CTC unit, TB unit, non communicable disease, Other departments includes; Laboratory unit, X-ray unit, HIV unit, drug store and pharmacy unit, blood bank unit.

The sampling technique of this study was Non-Probability Convenient sampling.

The sample size of this study was selected 60 respondents of pregnant women at 20 weeks to 36weeks of gestation who attended the antenatal clinic at Benadir hospital wadajir district Benadir region Somalia 2021.

As shown in (Table 1) indicated the independent variables which associated with the study.

During the study, different tools were used for collecting data from different sources.

Secondary sources: including books reports, hospital records, published papers, official documents, etc.

Primary sources: was carried out using interviewer-administered questionnaire that was designed into two parts first part contain socio-demographic information, which’s of age, residence, educational level, occupation and second part which include knowledge, attitude and practice regarding intermittent preventive treatment IPTp of malaria in pregnancy utilization among pregnant women attending antenatal center in Benadir hospital wadajir district Benadir region Somalia 2021.

The data were conducted, processed and transferred to computer coding. A variables’ descriptive screening was adopted which includes percentages, means frequency distribution tables and figures by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences SPSS Version 16 computer program, 0.05 was used as a cut off significance value.

A permission was obtained from Benadir Hospital, both the hospital administration and respondents were made aware of the facts that the research is purely an academic requirement and the information provided will not be used for another purpose.

In Table 2, the study showed that 35 (58%) were in the 25 - 34 years’ age group. A total of 51 (85%) were married, and 24 (40%) were illiterate while 17 (28%) had primary school education. 43 (72%) were housewives while only 11 (18%) were employed.

Other similar studies conducted rural Kenya and North-Eastern Tanzania found the use of IPTp-SP increasing with age, younger age groups generally associated with low IPTp-SP use [7]. Age however was a non-significant predictor of the use of IPTp-SP in some studies [8].

Education has been inconsistent amongst the studies. It has also been identified by some studies to be a significant predictor of the use of IPTp-SP which found an association between low or no education level and low use of IPTp-SP. [8]. In some studies in conducted in Tanzania, Kenya, however, showed education was not shown to be a statistically significant predictor of the use of IPTp- SP [9]. While studies conducted in Uganda showed that the Majority of the participant (90%) were well educated. They had secondary to tertiary education but however, only 40.5% of them took first dose only showing that education level does not determine how women receive malaria prevention [10].

This study showed that 32 (53%) of the respondents were had gravid more than Four times, followed by 19 (32%) who were had three times, 7 (12%).

Studies conducted in north-east Tanzania showed that the number of pregnancies a woman has had, has been identified to be associated with the use of IPTp-SP. Women who have a first pregnancy (single gravidae) have been found to be significantly associated with taking inadequate SP dose [11]. Other studies conducted in Tanzania found gravidity had no significant association with the use of IPTp-SP [12].

This study showed that a total of 39 (65%) were had knowledge towards IPTp while 21 (35%) did not. This study also showed that the majority of the respondents 39 (65%) were get health education awareness on IPTp during their current pregnancy while 21 (35%) did not.

Table 3, total of 25 (42%) were getting health education awareness towards IPTp were from health care providers at health centers while 8 (13%) from Friends/relatives/neighbors, followed by 4 (6%) from their husband. And 34 (57%) were had convenience IPTp-SP tablet consumption at their current pregnancy while 26 (43%) did not.

In some studies conducted in Korogwe District, North-Eastern Tanzania showed that the knowledge about malaria in pregnant women has been found to significantly increase the use of IPTp-SP [13].

A cross-sectional study based on the 2015 Malaria Indicator Survey in Kenya however found no associations between knowledge of malaria and the use of IPTp-SP [14]. Contrary to their finding other studies conducted in Tanzania found that the knowledge about malaria prevention significantly increased the use of IPTp-SP [15]. Another recent study conducted in a rural town in Western Nigeria found that lack of knowledge of adverse consequences of malaria in pregnancy was significantly associated with low use of IPTp-SP [16].

A study conducted in two health facilities in rural Nigeria (2009) showed that 23.9% of the pregnant women who have heard about IPTp were able to give a good definition of IPTp [16].

Similar study conducted in the Bosomtwe district of Ghana’ shows that pregnant women’s knowledge on the IPT subject is an issue that needs to be addressed to increase coverage. In order to ensure that pregnant women get the right information on IPT, health care workers need to have proper knowledge such that they transfer that knowledge to the target group appropriately [17].

A study conducted in Korogwe District, North-Eastern Tanzania viewed IPTs- SP as harmful, suggesting that it caused miscarriages and side effect that included mouth sores, fatigue, fever, rashes and itchiness; however these studies suggested that although these perceptions exist, there were very few cases of adverse effects, and that these ideas were based on hearsay rather than personal experience [18].

Knowledge of health care workers has probably contributed to the high knowledge of pregnant women. However it was observed that the health education that is provided in the morning before the clinic starts is not enough, as some clients usually have discomforts of being pregnant and some come late. The outcome of this is difficulties in acceptance of the drug when these pregnant women are issued with SP when they reach the right gestation age of receiving SP. A study conducted in rural Nigeria showed that, despite having heard about IPTp, 44 (40.4%) women were afraid of taking drugs in pregnancy [19].

In a study conducted in Tanzania, majority of the respondents associated low compliance with IPTp to poor acceptance of SP because of perceived association of SP with side effects. In the same study, it was also reported that pregnant women discard drugs after leaving the clinic. Other factors influencing compliance included late enrolment, periodic shortages of drugs and health workers under performance [19].

In Table 5, this study revealed that 41 (68%) respondents were had ANC visit while 19 (31%) did not, 27 (45%) of them were attended Mother and child health center (MCH) for their ANC visit. And Overall, 28 (47%) were had used (utilized) IPTp-SP drugs at their current pregnancy, Of the 27 (45%) had taken one dose while 4 (6%) took two doses, 1 (2%) took three doses.

Study conducted in Nigeria found that early booking for ANC, more than two visits to ANC, good knowledge and positive attitude towards IPTp and being employed were factors associated with IPTp-SP utilisation. Respondents’ good knowledge on IPTp was further corroborated by FGD findings of SP being the drug of choice with no harmful effect on the pregnant woman and the baby yet unborn. Positive attitude towards IPTp use might be because of the good level of IPTp awareness, which was mostly through the health care provider [20].

According to World Malaria Report (2010), in 2007-2009, the percentage of women who received two doses of treatment during pregnancy ranged from 2.4% in Angola to 62% in Zambia. A study in Benin 2007, on evaluation of the strategies of malaria control during pregnancy showed that 66.6% of the women in the general population had received IPT-SP appropriately (two doses) [20].

This study showed that overall respondents 22 (37%) started IPTp-SP tablet consumption during the period in 4 - 6 months (13 - 24 Weeks), while 10 (16%) started IPTp-SP tablet consumption during in 7 - 9 months (25 - 36 weeks) of their gestational period. In all, 12 (20%) of respondents took their IPTp-SP tablet under the direct observation of the health care worker at the health facility (DOTs) [14].

Although 71% of all women started ANC after the four gestational months recommended by guidelines, their late attendance was not found to be the main constraint for IPTp delivery since 81% of the women had attended the ANC clinic at the time of the first IPTp delivery and 60% had attended both during the first and the second IPTp delivery period [14].

However, it seemed that women’s attendance was rather based on norms and rituals than on their awareness of the benefits of ANC services for their own and their child’s health. Late ANC initiation was associated with belonging to the Sukuma ethnic group, multiparity, and late recognition of pregnancy [14].

As shown in Table 2, total number of 60 respondents of pregnant women at 20 weeks to 36 weeks of gestation who attended the antenatal clinic at Benadir hospital wadajir district benadir region Somalia were included this study during from April 2021-July 2021.

A total of 35 (58%) were in the 25 - 34 years’ age group. A total of 51 (85%) were married, and 24 (40%) were illiterate while 17 (28%) had primary school education. 43 (72%) were housewives while only 11 (18%) were employed. A total 32 (53%) were had gravid more than Four times, followed by 19 (32%) who were had three times, 7 (12%).

As shown in the Table 3; total of 39 (65%) were had knowledge towards IPTp while 21 (35%) did not. A total of 25 (42%) were getting health education awareness towards IPTp were from health care providers at health centers while 8 (13%) from Friends/relatives/neighbors, followed by 4 (6%) from their husband. And 34 (57%) were had convenience IPTp-SP tablet consumption at their current pregnancy while 26 (43%) did not.

Among the study respondents, 41 (68%) were had ANC visit while 19 (31%) did not, 27 (45%) of them were attended Mother and child health center (MCH) for their ANC visit. And Overall, 28 (47%) were had used (utilized) IPTp-SP drugs at their current pregnancy. Of the 27 (45%) had taken one dose while 4 (6%) took two doses, 1 (2%) took three doses.

As shown in the Table 5, furthermore 32 (53%) did not used (utilized) IPTp- SP drugs at their current pregnancy of the 21 (32%) were luck of awareness, 19 (32%) were lack ANC attending during their pregnancies, (10%) were luck of IPTp-SP drugs at ANC center and overall when level of education, parity, IPTp awareness, Convenience of IPTp-SP consumption, ANC visit of the respondents were cross tabulated with their IPTp-SP intake (consumption/utilization result showed significant difference was strongly observed (P = 0.00).

The study recommended the flowing:

1) The ministry of health especially health promotion, maternal and reproductive health and national malaria control programe should intensify national strategies and policies to ensure 3 doses of IPTp-SP given at antenatal care centers which is targeted 80% coverage of the pregnant women in the target areas and provide capacity building for all health care providers. Continuous sensitization and educate pregnant women on the importance of intermittent preventive treatment during each pregnancy by healthcare workers at community level needs to be increased by provision of standardized improved IEC messages that contain clear and well understood information via mass-media.

2) Also the study recommended further studies on knowledge Attitude and Practice on the utilization of intermittent preventive treatment (IPTs) of malaria in pregnancy should be conducted in Somalia.