Assessment of the level of use of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets among Pregnant women a ending Antenatal Clinic in a Tertiary Health facility in Osun State, South-west Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Malaria in pregnancy is a serious health problem in tropical and subtropical regions of the world with dangerous consequences to the mother and threat to the unborn child. An approach currently used for its reduction is the utilization of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Net (LLIN). Though LLIN has been found to be one of the cheapest and most effective interventions against malaria infection if used consistently and properly, the level of malaria among pregnant women in this region still calls for concern, and the impetus for this study. The purpose of the study was to determine the level of use of LLIN among respondents in Antenatal Clinic (ANC) of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Nigeria. This is to identify factors associated with the use or non-use of LLINs to establish its level of acceptance.

Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study that used a pre-tested interviewer administered questionnaire to obtain information on the socio-demographic characteristics, gravidity, gestational age, use of LLIN, and factors associated with use or non-use of LLIN. Two hundred pregnant women who a ended the ANC and met the inclusion criteria were recruited. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS).

Results: A total of 200 respondents took part in this study and 65.5% of them were found to own LLIN. Among the respondents, 12.5% were consistent users of LLIN, 53.0% were occasional users while 34.5% were non-users. Among the consistent users, a major reason associated with the use of LLIN was the awareness that it could prevent malaria (85.7%). The non-users did not own LLIN and the main reasons given for not having was ignorance (42.0%) and use of doors and windows net (21.7%). 

Conclusions: The study revealed that the level of use of LLIN among the study respondents was poor, therefore malaria preventive education is strongly recommended for malaria knowledge and adherence to LLIN use in pregnant women.