Utilization of Insecticide Treated Nets by Pregnant Women Accessing Antenatal Care at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri.

Abstract

Background: Studies have demonstrated that the use of ITNs in pregnancy reduces malaria related morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of pregnant women on the use of ITNs.

Method: It was a descriptive cross sectional study carried out between May November, 2012. A total of 210 pregnant women attending ANC gave consent for the study. Data was collected with the aid of pre tested questionnaires and analyzed by the use of epi info version 6.0.

Result: The mean age of the study population was 28.9 Eighty nine percent of the subjects were aware that regular use of ITNs was preventive against malaria while 53.8% were utilizing ITNs as at the time of the study. Respondents aged 40 years and above, civil servants, married subjects, multigravid subjects and respondents belonging to SEC III showed higher rates of utilization when compared with others in the same corresponding socio demographic characteristics. However, there was no statistical significant relationship between any of the above variables and the rate of utilization of ITNs.

Conclusion/Recommendations: In view of the relatively low rate of utilization of ITNs when compared with the level of awareness, it was recommended that ITNs should be distributed free to all the pregnant women at booking. More so, intensive sensitization should be embarked upon to demystify the erroneous belief that the chemical used in the treatment of ITNs is teratogenic to the fetus.

Keywords: Antenatal care, Insecticide treated net; Owerri.