Abstract:
Malaria in pregnancy is a major public health problem in Nigeria leading to increase in the risk of maternal mortality, low birth weight and infant mortality. Malaria accounts for about 11% of all maternal deaths in Nigeria, and indirectly contributes to additional 11% of maternal deaths mainly by being a leading cause of anaemia in pregnancy.Prevention tools such as use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) with Sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) has been shown to be effective in preventing malaria in pregnancy.This study was carried out to assess the use of malaria preventive measures by pregnant women in Enugu. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving pregnant women at two ante-natal clinics in Enugu namely; Mother of Christ Specialist Hospital and Polly Clinics.
A total of 330 pregnant women were recruited for this study by systematic random sampling. Data was collected using well structured close-ended questionnairesused to elicit information on socio-demographic characteristics,knowledge of malaria disease,ownership of insecticide treated nets (ITN), and ITN use in pregnancy, as well as the knowledge and uptake of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) and barriers to the use of these malaria preventive measures in pregnancy.
At the end of the study, it was observed that Majority 94.5 % of the women were aware of the mode of malaria transmission. A very high knowledge of malaria preventive measures like insecticide treated nets (ITNs) and the intermittent preventive therapy in pregnancy (IPTp) was also observed in this study. A total of 65.5% of the respondents possess insecticide treated nets (ITNs). About 83.6% of the respondents use insecticide treated nets (ITNs) , while 63.7% of the respondents have received intermittent preventive therapy in pregnancy (IPTp).There was no significant association between parity and use of ITNs and parity and uptake of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp)
The use of these preventive measures use was still found to be poor.Non-availability, cost, erroneous belief and late booking for antennal care were also found to be affecting the use of these malaria preventive measures in pregnancy.
