Insecticide Treated Nets: Perception And Practice Among Pregnant Women Accessing Antenatal Services At A Tertiary Hospital In Awka, Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria is an endemic disease in Nigeria with its greatest adverse effects on pregnant women and under-five children. Use of insecticide treated net (ITN) is one of the measures for combating malaria. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitude and use of ITNs among pregnant women who attend the antenatal clinic at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka, Nigeria. The respondents were selected using a systematic sampling technique and a total of 230 pregnant women were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Information was collected on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and use of ITNs. The results obtained showed that 99.1% were aware of ITN, 80.4% own a net and 49.6% of the respondents slept inside ITN the previous night. The results obtained showed that there was a high rate of awareness about ITNs and its importance, there was good attitude towards ITN but the use was poor. We recommended that further studies be carried out to find out the reasons for poor usage of ITN after which appropriate interventions will be carried out.