| Summary: | Introduction
Prevention of malaria in pregnancy (MIP) with the use of insecticide
treated nets (ITNs) is no doubt one of the major interventions aimed at reducing maternal
and infant morbidity and mortality rates. This study aimed to determine the knowledge,
accessibility and utilization of ITNs during pregnancy.
Methods
This is a quantitative survey conducted in 2014 among pregnant women
attending ANC in Redeemer Hospital and Maternity, Abakpa-Nike, Enugu State, South-
Eastern Nigeria. One hundred and forty participants were selected using convenience
sampling and information elicited using a self-developed questionnaire. Data were
analysed using SPSS (version 9) and results presented in frequency tables.
Results
Among the respondents, 90.7% knew of the effectiveness of ITNs in the
prevention of MIP. Results also showed that most of the women (69.3%) own at least
one ITN, and their major source was from the free house-to-house distribution by the
government. Also, 62.9% revealed that the ITNs were readily available. Out of the 97
women that owned at least one ITN, the majority (69.1%) claimed to have started
using ITNs even before pregnancy with 70% claiming to sleep under the ITNs always.
Nevertheless, only 69.1% used an ITN correctly.
Conclusions
There is high knowledge of ITNs and their effectiveness in prevention of
MIP among pregnant women in Enugu South-Eastern Nigeria. However, there is a need for
measures to increase awareness on their correct usage, and also to correct misconceptions
and wrong beliefs associated with ITNs in order to enhance their utilization.
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