article · Journal of Health Population and Nutrition
An analysis of the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey evaluated the uptake and drivers of deworming medication among 4,401 pregnant women aged 15 to 49. Nationally, 61.9% of women reported taking deworming medication during pregnancy, a level regarded as suboptimal. Higher medication uptake was significantly linked to women aged 25 to 34, employment, higher household wealth, health insurance coverage, living in the Southern zone, having seven or more children under five, attending at least four antenatal care visits, and weekly mass media exposure. Conversely, women living in rural areas faced lower odds of using deworming treatments than their urban peers. The findings indicate that targeted antenatal care strategies and improved access are needed to reach underserved and rural populations.
Parasitic infections are a major contributor to maternal anaemia, which raises serious delivery risks for both mothers and newborns. Identifying the specific socioeconomic and geographic barriers to deworming medication allows public health planners to design targeted antenatal interventions, helping ensure essential preventative treatments reach the most vulnerable pregnant women.
The abstract does not indicate a commercialisation pathway, as it focuses on epidemiological findings to inform public health and antenatal care programmes.
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BACKGROUND: Anemia during pregnancy increases delivery risks, with untreated parasitic infections being a major cause. In Tanzania, evidence on deworming uptake among pregnant women aged 15-49 is limited. This study assessed national uptake and determinants of deworming medication use in this group. METHODS: We analyzed secondary data from the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS-2022), using the Pregnancy Outcome and Care for Pregnancies (NR) file. The study population consisted of pregnant women aged 15-49 years who had a live birth or stillbirth in the three years preceding the survey. A total of 4,401 women were included (unweighted n = 4,387; weighted n = 4,401). The outcome was uptake of deworming medication during pregnancy, defined using DHS variable m60 (yes = 1, no = 0). Survey-adjusted logistic regression was used to identify determinants, and results are presented as adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: The uptake of deworming medication among pregnant women in Tanzania was 61.9% (95%CI: 59.7-64.0). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed several significant determinants. Women aged 25-34 years (aOR: 1.36, 95%CI: 1.13-1.63), residing in the Southern zone (aOR: 1.62, 95%CI: 1.26-2.09), currently employed (aOR: 1.26, 95%CI: 1.08-1.49), and those from wealthier households (aOR: 1.38, 95%CI: 1.05-1.82) had higher odds of taking deworming medication. Insurance coverage (aOR: 1.58, 95%CI: 1.00-2.50), having seven or more children under five years (aOR: 2.80, 95%CI: 1.26-6.23), attending four or more ANC visits (aOR: 1.36, 95%CI: 1.05-1.77), and accessing mass media at least once a week (aOR: 1.40, 95%CI: 1.15-1.72) were also associated with increased uptake. Conversely, women in rural areas had lower odds of taking deworming medication (aOR: 0.75, 95%CI: 0.59-0.95) compared to their urban counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: In Tanzania, deworming medication uptake among pregnant women remains suboptimal. Determinants of higher uptake included age 25-34 years, southern residence, employment, wealth, insurance coverage, high parity, attending at least four ANC visits, and regular media exposure, while rural residence was associated with lower uptake. ANC programmes should prioritize equitable access and implement tailored strategies to improve coverage, particularly among rural and underserved women.
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DOI: 10.1186/s41043-025-01116-6
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