Edidiong S Akpan¹, Dennis N Aribodor¹, Ifeoma K Ugwuanyi^1,2, Ogechukwu B Aribodor³, Ngozi N Joe-Ikechebelu⁴* and Amaechi C Nwachukwu^5,6

¹Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
²School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
³Department of Zoology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
⁴Department of Community Medicine/Primary Health Care, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Amaku, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
⁵Department of Surgery, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Amaku, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
⁶Chukwuemeka Odumegwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author: Ngozi N Joe-Ikechebelu, Social Dimensions of Health Program, School of Public Health and Social Policy, Human and Social Development, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. E-mail: ngozijoseph13@gmail.com

Received: May 24, 2021 ; Published: June 11, 2021

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Pregnancy-associated malaria remains a major risk to pregnant woman and her foetus in sub-Saharan Africa. Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT) and insecticide treated nets (ITNs) are the recommended malaria in pregnancy preventive interventions in the region. This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of malaria in pregnant women. We also aimed to determine the use of these pregnant women regarding the recommended prevention interventions to understand barriers to uptake and help to improve their effectiveness.

Methods: Blood screening for malaria parasite was conducted on 405 pregnant women from Uyo in southern Nigeria. Information the on use of preventive measures were also obtained using questionnaires.

Results: Our findings show that 105/405 (25.9%) women were infected with malaria. On the use of preventive measures for malaria control, there was an above average compliance by the study population. For the use of the recommended IPT drug, 73.8% of the women had taken a complete dose, while 25.9% failed to take the drug. Results also revealed that 68.3% of the women always slept under a Long-lasting Insecticide-treated Nets (LLINs) while 19.2% did not use the nets.

Interpretation and Conclusion: Our study indicates that malaria in pregnancy is still a problem in the study area. Therefore. advocacy on knowledge and behavior change practices should be strengthened to effectively prevent malaria for improved quality of life during and after pregnancy.

Keywords: Malaria; Pregnancy; IPT; LLIN

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Citation

Citation: Edidiong S Akpan., et al. “Malaria in Pregnancy and the Utilization of Preventive Interventions among Pregnant Women in Uyo, Nigeria”. Acta Scientific Microbiology 4.7 (2021): 57-64.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2021 Edidiong S Akpan., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.