Abstract
Introduction: Malaria in pregnancy, which enormously creates substantial risks for the mother and her fetus, is a public health problem in Nigeria. Design and Methods: Through questionnaire administration, this cross-sectional survey investigates the influence of the household environment on malaria preventive and treatment behaviors among 300 pregnant women in two selected areas of Oyo State, Nigeria. In addition, four focus group discussions and four in-depth interviews were conducted, all between October 2015 and March, 2016. Results: Findings from the study indicate a positive relationship between income level (P = 0.000), educational level (P = 0.000) and preventive behavior and perception of malaria. There, however, is a negative relationship (P = 0.122) between place of residence and number of malaria episodes of the respondents. A high awareness on the cause of Malaria was recorded in this study, while a low awareness on the consequences of malaria infection in Pregnancy was visible. Conclusion and Recommendation: The household environment of pregnant women was found a key predictor in the prevention and treatment of malaria in both rural and urban areas of Oyo State Nigeria. Nationwide programme aimed at reducing malaria especially among pregnant women is needed in Nigeria.
Highlights
Malaria in pregnancy, which enormously creates substantial risks for the mother and her fetus, is a public health problem in Nigeria
When malaria experience of the respondents was sourced to document malaria episodic rates in their current pregnancy, more than half (58.4%) of the respondents had, at least, had one episode of Malaria in their current pregnancy while 6.3% reportedly not sure. In both urban and rural communities, 40.7%, 16.7% and 1.0% women reported that they had malaria episode once, twice and thrice respectively in their pregnancy
35.3% women did not experience any malaria episode in their pregnancy period
Summary
Malaria in pregnancy, which enormously creates substantial risks for the mother and her fetus, is a public health problem in Nigeria. Design and Methods: Through questionnaire administration, this cross-sectional survey investigates the influence of the household environment on malaria preventive and treatment behaviors among 300 pregnant women in two selected areas of Oyo State, Nigeria. Results: Findings from the study indicate a positive relationship between income level (P = 0.000), educational level (P = 0.000) and preventive behavior and perception of malaria. Conclusion and Recommendation: The household environment of pregnant women was found a key predictor in the prevention and treatment of malaria in both rural and urban areas of Oyo State Nigeria. Nationwide programme aimed at reducing malaria especially among pregnant women is needed in Nigeria.
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