Knowledge, Perception and Prevention of Malaria in Pregnancy Among Pregnant Women Attending Selected Antenatal Clinics in Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37506/cyf8vc08Keywords:
Antenatal clients, Long-lasting insecticidal nets(LLINs), Malaria in Pregnancy, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP).Abstract
Malaria in pregnancy is a significant global health concern, particularly in tropical regions, malaria during pregnancy
(MiP) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. It results in low birth weight (LBW), premature delivery, maternal
anemia, and intrauterine growth retardation. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, perception, and preventive practices
regarding malaria in pregnancy among pregnant women attending selected antenatal clinics in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 189 participants, using a researcher-administered questionnaire.
Data were analyzed with SPSS version 22.0, employing descriptive statistics to describe sociodemographic characteristics,
knowledge, perception, preventive practices, and perceived barriers to implementing malaria prevention measures.
The findings revealed that 85.7% of the participants had a high level of knowledge about malaria in pregnancy, and 78.3%
believed that malaria could lead to maternal death. Financial constraints were identified by 76.7% of participants as a
significant barrier to implementing preventive measures. The study found no significant association between the level
of knowledge and factors such as age (p=0.391), education level (p=0.113), number of previous pregnancies (p=0.199),
trimester (p=0.608), and antenatal clinic attendance (p=0.878). However, occupation (p=0.031) was significantly associated
with the level of knowledge.
Based on these findings, the study recommended providing insecticide-treated nets, mosquito repellents, and antimalarial
medications at reduced or no cost to address financial barriers and enhance malaria prevention among pregnant women.
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