Knowledge of malaria prevention among pregnant women and non-pregnant mothers of children aged under 5 years in Ibadan, South West Nigeria

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Authors: Kelechi Elizabeth Oladimeji, Joyce Mahlako Tsoka-Gwegweni, Elizabeth Ojewole, Samuel Tassi Yunga
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2019
• Subjects: Malaria prevention and control; Pregnant women; Non-pregnant mothers of children aged under 5 years; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-019-2706-1; https://doaj.org/article/0dfc40ed19954081bd5537e59609bf7f

Abstract Background Adequate knowledge of malaria prevention and control can help in reducing the growing burden of malaria among vulnerable groups, particularly pregnant women and children aged under 5 years living in malaria endemic settings. Similar studies have been conducted but with less focus on these vulnerable groups. This study assessed knowledge of malaria prevention and control among the pregnant women and non-pregnant mothers of children aged under 5 years in Ibadan, Oyo State, South West Nigeria. Methods In this cross sectional study, data on socio-demographic, clinical and knowledge on malaria prevention was collected using interviewer administered questionnaires from consenting study participants attending Adeoyo maternity hospital between May and November 2016. Data was described using percentages and compared across the two maternal groups in the study population. Knowledge scoring from collected data was computed using the variables on causes, symptoms and prevention of malaria and thereafter dichotomised. Multivariate analyses were used to assess the interactive effect of socio demographic and clinical characteristics with malaria knowledge. Level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results Of the 1373 women in the study, 59.6% (818) were pregnant women while 40.4% (555) were mothers of children aged under 5 years. The respondents mean age was 29 years ± 5.2. A considerable proportion of both the pregnant women (n = 494, 60.4%) and the non-pregnant mothers of children aged under 5 years (n = 254, 45.8%) did not have correct knowledge on malaria prevention measures based on our assessment threshold (p < 0.001). Having a tertiary level education was associated with better knowledge on malaria (4.20 ± 1.18, F = 16.80, p < 0.001). Multivariate analyses showed that marital status, educational attainment, gravidity, and HIV status were significantly associated with knowledge of malaria prevention and control. Conclusion The findings indicate that socio-demographic factors such ...