ABSTRACT
The prevalence of malaria has been on the rise in many sub-Saharan countries including Nigeria. Inadequate information, attitudes, and behaviours regarding malaria prevention and are a major factors that cause an increase in maternal and neonatal mortality rate.
In order to understand how pregnant women in Ibadan, Nigeria, view and manage malaria, this study examined their knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward malaria prevention.
Research shows that 85% of expectant mothers experience malaria during their pregnancies. This is because of the presence of placenta and other changes to their immune systems, which make them experience a reduction in their immunity to malaria. This renders them three times more vulnerable to malaria than their non-pregnant counterparts. The world health organization suggests a three pronged strategy to combat malaria in pregnant women, consisting of intermittent preventive therapy using sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), use of insecticide-treated nets (ITN) and case management of malaria.
Majority of the pregnant women in this study had a good knowledge of malaria prevention and the effects of malaria to their health and that of their child. The use of sulphadoxine-pymethamine and insecticide treated nets, however, presented some barriers for certain pregnant women.
In order to minimize the barriers associated with using intermittent preventive therapy, there has to be a concentrated effort by health care professionals in educating pregnant women on the benefits of the use of intermittent preventive therapy over the barriers.
