Knowledge and utilization of malaria preventive measures among pregnant women at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria's federal capital territory

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine the knowledge and utilization of malaria preventive measures as well as barriers to the utilization of these measures by pregnant women. Materials and Methods: The study was a prospective cross-sectional survey involving pregnant women at the booking clinic of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital between May and August 2010. Close-ended pre-tested structured questionnaires were administered by interviewer method to 403 consecutive consenting women. Results: The knowledge of malaria and its preventive measures in pregnancy was 71.5. There was a statistically significant association between knowledge of malaria and educational status (X2 = 16.053; P = 0.035). Intermittent preventive treatment was used by 15.9 of the respondents. Insecticide-treated net ownership was 42.6; however; its use declined from 28.5 before pregnancy to 24.6 during pregnancy. Conclusion: There is adequate knowledge about malaria and its preventive measures in pregnancy; but the utilization of these measures is poor. There is need for concerted efforts at addressing the barriers to utilization of these effective interventions: