A study on placental malaria in 2007 reported a prevalence of 64.4% in pregnant women in Anambra State, Nigeria, more
than 5 years after Abuja Declaration to half malaria burden by 50% in 2010. Pregnant women in subSaharan Africa are an important
vulnerable group and are targeted to receive special care including intermittent preventive treatment of malaria (IPT). The objective of
the study was to determine the types of drug used for IPT of malaria in pregnancy as well as factors determining the choice of a
particular drug by the health care provider. Pre-tested structured questionnaire designed to elicit information on drugs used for
preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy was administered to health care providers attending to pregnant women during antenatal
care (ANC) visits in Anambra State, Nigeria. Data obtained were analysed statistically using Chi square test of equality of proportion
and SPSS version 15.0. Of the one hundred health care providers sampled, 50% use chloroquine (CQ), 20% sulphadoxine
pyrimethamine (SP), 5% artemisinin-based drug (ACT), 5% metakelfin. The rest used combination of these drugs. There was a high
significant difference between the use of CQ and SP. Factors that determine the choice of drug were statistically significant and include
safety (100%), cost (30%), compliance (20%), malaria parasite test (20%), clinical illness (20%), efficacy (10%), drug availability
(10%), and patients preferred route of administration (10%). Seventy per cent of the respondents were trained medical doctors, and 30%
midwives. Scaling up the use of SP for IPT of malaria in pregnancy is advocated. This may be achieved through training workshops for
health care providers. Evaluation of the usefulness of chloroquine for IPT is recommended.