A survey of malaria prevention practices by women attending antenatal clinics in two government hospitals in Edo state, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The Roll Back Malaria (RBM) partnership is an influential international alliance that was convened to eradicate malaria in regions of the world where it is still endemic. One of the goals of RBM was that by 2010, 80% of pregnant women would be protected from malaria and universal coverage would be achieved by 2015, using insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) and prophylaxis with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) as key interventions. Aim: This study was undertaken in 2010 to assess ITN uptake and SP prophylaxis in women attending antenatal clinics in Benin City, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Consenting pregnant attendees at Central Hospital (CH) and University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) were interviewed in May 2010. Demographics and information regarding ITN use/malaria chemoprophylaxis were obtained. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16. Results: A total of 75 and 86 respondents were interviewed in CH and UBTH, respectively. Insecticides were the chief malaria protection used - 31.6% and 14%, respectively. No respondent in CH had slept under an ITN the night before survey; 4.7% in UBTH had. None in CH had received prophylaxis with SP in the current pregnancy; 34.9% in UBTH had. In CH and UBTH, neither education ( p = 0.203 and 0.063, respectively) nor occupation ( p = 0.396 and 0.104, respectively) was significantly associated with ITN possession. Conclusion: As at May 2010, the uptake of ITN and SP prophylaxis by pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in CH and UBTH, in Nigeria was very far short of the set RBM targets.