Table 1 Definition of independent variables

Sociodemographic

 Maternal age

Age in years, further grouped 15–24, 25–34 and 35+ years

 Educational level

Highest level attained, classified as none, primary, secondary and tertiary

 Marital status

Either married or unmarried

 Residence

Either rural or urban

 Employment status

Categorized as unemployed, informal employment or formal employment

 Religion

Grouped as none, Roman Catholic, Protestant/other Christian or Muslim

Obstetric

 Parity

Number of live births, further categorized as 1, 2 and 3 + 

 Gestational age at 1st ANC visit

Pregnancy age at 1st ANC visit, further grouped as ≤ 16 or > 16 weeks

 Frequency of ANC visit

Total number of ANC visits, further classified as < 4 and ≥ 4 weeks

 Experience of SP side effects

Whether a woman experienced SP side effects or not

Knowledge related

 Knowledge of MiP dangers

 ≥ 3 correct responses indicated adequate knowledge, 2 correct responses indicated moderate knowledge, 1 correct response indicated low knowledge, otherwise unknowledgeable

 Knowledge of MiP prevention

 ≥ 3 correct responses indicated adequate knowledge, 2 correct responses indicated moderate knowledge, 1 correct response indicated low knowledge, otherwise unknowledgeable

 Knowledge of IPTp-SP benefits

Identifying malaria prevention as the benefit of IPTp-SP indicated good knowledge, otherwise poor knowledge

 Knowledge of IPTp-SP start

Mentioning gestation age between 13 to 16 weeks as the best time to start IPTp-SP indicated good knowledge, otherwise poor knowledge

 Knowledge of optimal SP dose

Mentioning uptake of SP doses in the range of 3 to 8 during the entire pregnancy period indicated good knowledge, otherwise poor knowledge

Health service delivery

 SP administration at ANC clinic

Either a woman ever missed or never missed being issued SP

 ANC clinic working hours

Whether ANC services were accessible half day or whole day

 Maternal services fee

Whether a woman ever paid for ANC services or not

 ANC clinic waiting time

Time in minutes spent queueing before being attended to at ANC clinic, further grouped as ≤ 30 and > 30 min

 Water provision at ANC clinic

Whether ANC clinic provided water for taking SP always, sometimes or never, as reported by a pregnant woman

 Clean water at ANC clinic

Whether water for taking SP at ANC clinic was clean always, sometimes or never, as reported by a pregnant woman

 Clean cups at ANC clinic

Whether cups/glasses for taking SP at ANC clinic were clean always, sometimes or never, as reported by a pregnant woman

 Enough cups at ANC clinic

Whether cups/glasses for taking SP at ANC clinic were enough or not, as reported by a pregnant woman

 Health worker-client relationship

On most occasions; 1. Whether a health worker greeted a pregnant woman before attending to her, 2. Whether enough time was spent attending to the woman, 3. Whether the woman was counselled/ educated on IPTp-SP benefits, 4. Whether the woman was given a chance to ask questions, 5. Whether the woman felt comfortable asking questions, 6. Whether her questions were answered satisfactorily, 7. Whether the health worker ever shouted at the woman. At least four positive responses to the first six questions and a negative response to the last question indicated good relationship, otherwise poor