Awareness on the use of insecticide-treated nets among women attending antenatal clinic in a tertiary health facility in South-South Nigeria

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to assess the level of awareness and use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) by pregnant women attending antenatal care in a tertiary health facility in Delta State in South-South Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study of awareness and use of ITN among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinics (ANC) of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.

Results: A total of 201 pregnant women were interviewed. Their mean age was 30.2 ± 5.4 years; 150 (74.6%) of the women were in the age group 25 – 34 years. Majority, 191(95%) were married, 150 (74.6%) had attained tertiary education and 137 (68.2%) were multigravidae. One hundred and seventy-eight (88.6%) women were aware that ITNs could prevent malaria in pregnancy, but only less than half 91 (45.3%) of them were using ITNs. Their major source of information about ITNs was at the ANC. There was no statistically significant association between their age group (p = 0.974), occupation (p = 0.855), marital status (p = 0.731), parity (p = 0.538), level of education (p = 0.269) and their usage of ITNs.

Conclusions: Although there was a high awareness about ITNs among pregnant women, their use of ITNs was low. Massive scale-up public enlightenment and free distribution of ITNs may encourage the use of ITNs among pregnant women.

Keywords: Pregnant women, malaria, Insecticide treated nets, Nigeria.