Utilization of malaria preventive strategies among pregnant women at Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria

INTRODUCTION: Malaria in pregnancy is associated with a high rate of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Utilization of preventive strategies during pregnancy is an integral part of controlling the burden of malaria in pregnancy. This study evaluated the malaria preventive strategies utilized and the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria among pregnant women at Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital (AMTH), Ibadan, Nigeria. METHODS: A facility-based descriptive cross-sectional study among 223 pregnant women in Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Information on socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics, malaria symptoms, and the preventive strategies utilized were obtained using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive and bivariate analysis using chi-square test and multivariate analysis at 95% confidence interval and p< 0.05 was used to determine the predictors of asymptomatic malaria infection in relation to socio-demographic characteristics and malaria preventive strategies utilized. RESULTS: The mean age was 30±5 years. More than half (53.4%) of them used insecticide-treated nets consistently, 49.3% sprayed the room regularly with insecticides, while the majority (88.3%) reported they maintained a clean environment. However, 11.7% tested positive for the malaria parasite. Consistency in the use of insecticide-treated net (ITN) and participants age were factors associated with malaria occurrence (p=0.01). The use of ITN and being >30 years of age are protective factors against having malaria infection among pregnant women (AOR= 0.34; 95%, CI=0.14-0.84) and (AOR=0.31; 95% CI=0.13-0.76) respectively. CONCLUSION: Irrespective of all other malaria preventive strategies adopted by pregnant women, consistent use of ITN was independently a protective factor against developing malaria in pregnancy.