BACKGROUND: Across sub-Saharan Africa, pregnant @entity1 attend routine health services around the 20th week of gestation. OBJECTIVE: To investigate, with a view to maximising effectiveness of @entity311 control tools delivered via routine services, coverage of an antenatal clinic insecticide-treated net (ITN) voucher scheme in Tanzania by gestational age. METHODS: Household and antenatal clinic survey data from 21 districts in Tanzania were collected and analysed annually 2005-2007. @entity17830 was defined as giving @entity1 access to vouchers for 24 weeks of pregnancy (weeks 16 and 40 gestation). The relationship between gestational age and use of ITNs throughout pregnancy was explored. RESULTS: Coverage of the ITN voucher was high (84% in 2007), but only 61% of optimal voucher protection was achieved. It was reduced by a combination of late attendance at clinic and staff not distributing vouchers at first visit. An increasing trend by gestational age in ITN use was observed each survey year, rising in 2007 from 23% of first-trimester @entity1 to 30% of @entity1 post partum (  (2)=5.9, p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Uptake of @entity311 interventions is not evenly distributed throughout pregnancy. Including gestational age in pregnancy coverage indicators can enhance understanding of the public health potential available from pregnancy interventions.

Timing of delivery of XXXX preventive interventions in pregnancy: results from the Tanzania national voucher programme.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women'] @entity311 :: ('MESH:D008288', 'Disease') :: ['malaria'] @entity17830 :: ('MESH:C536411', 'Disease') :: ['Optimal voucher protection']
@entity311 :: (MESH:D008288,Disease) :: ['malaria']
