Knowledge is a fundamental prerequisite for the adoption of appropriate health practices, particularly among pregnant women, where awareness of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) can influence regular antenatal clinic attendance and improve the uptake of Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP) for malaria prevention. Recognizing that knowledge of IPTp is a major determinant of its utilization, this study investigated the level of knowledge of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Nembe Local Government Area. A descriptive research design was adopted, involving a population of 398 pregnant women, from which a sample of 239 respondents was selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.834 and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27.0. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including percentages, mean scores, and chi-square analysis, were employed at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that 105 respondents (47.50%) possessed a moderate level of knowledge regarding the use of Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine for malaria prevention during pregnancy. Furthermore, the results indicated that there was no statistically significant relationship between respondents’ level of knowledge and their compliance with IPTp utilization (χ² = 4.83, df = 2, p > 0.05). The study therefore concluded that knowledge of IPTp among the surveyed pregnant women remains inadequate and recommends the implementation of more comprehensive awareness and educational campaigns to improve understanding of the benefits of IPTp, enhance its uptake, and promote better maternal and neonatal health outcomes.

Keywords: Antenatal, Knowledge, Malaria, Nembe, Pregnant Women.