Assessment of the Knowledge and Utilization of Insecticide Treated Nets Among Pregnant Women in a Secondary Health Care Facility in South-south, Nigeria

BACKGROUND Malaria is a parasitic infection that is caused by the protozoa, Plasmodium which is transmitted to humans though the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquito. Nigeria has the highest global burden of Malaria and Malaria remains endemic in Nigeria. The effect of Malaria in pregnant women remains far reaching. With specific preventive measures, the effects of Malaria in pregnancy can be greatly reduced. One of such preventive measures is the use of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated nets (LLITNs) in pregnancy. These are nets that have been treated with insecticide and can repel mosquitoes – the vectors of Malaria. When appropriately used, the nets have been shown to reduce the burden of Malaria in pregnant women. AIM The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge of Malaria in pregnancy and the utilization of LLITNs among pregnant women attending Ante Natal Care services in a secondary health care centre in South- South Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross sectional study of all consenting pregnant women attending Ante Natal Care services in a secondary health care facility was carried out from 1st August 2024 to 31st October 2024. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 154 women and there was 100% response rate. Knowledge less than 60% was considered poor and utilization of LLITNs less than 60% was equally considered poor. Collected Data was analyzed using SPSS IBM version 27 and a P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS More than half of the respondent, 80(51.9%) did not know that Malaria in pregnancy was harmful to the pregnant woman and 96(62.3%) were unaware that Malaria was harmful to the fetus. 92(59.7%) agreed that Malaria can be prevented and 64(41.5%) admitted that LLITNs can be used to prevent Malaria in pregnancy. 68(44.1%) had good knowledge while 86(55.8%) had poor knowledge. Overall, knowledge was adjudged to be poor .Only 80 (51.9%) of the respondents currently owned the LLITNs and 67(43.5%) of the respondents slept under the LLITNs in this index pregnancy. Overall, utilization of the LLITNs was adjudged to be poor. CONCLUSION The results from this study revealed that the knowledge that LLITNs can be a tool in prevention of Malaria in pregnancy and it’s actually utilization was unsatisfactory. Real utilization of the LLITNs among these Ante Natal attendees is still low,