Prevention and control of malaria using the IPT approach is
another essential component of the Uganda Government’s intervention package to combat anaemia during pregnancy,
given that malaria is one of the major causes of anaemia in
endemic countries like Uganda29. As with IFA use, IPT
coverage in Kiboga was unacceptably low and the results
indicate that this was a result of low overall ANC attendance,
and is in agreement with the 2006 UDHS which reported
national IPT coverage of 36.6%6. Intermittent preventive
treatment is a directly observed therapy which should be
taken by pregnant women at the ANC in the presence of
health workers. Hence, the low uptake of IPT suggests that
either health workers did not provide IPT services or they did
not give appropriate advice during ANC sessions, so many
women do not return for follow-up doses.