Utilization of Insecticide Treated Net and Intermittent Preventive Treatment among Pregnant Women in Ogoja Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria
Malaria in pregnancy is a major public health problem in Nigeria. Available data indicates that malaria parasitemia is highly responsible for 70.5% morbidity in pregnancy and 11% of maternal related-deaths. This study was aimed at assessing the level of utilization of insecticide treated net (ITN) and intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) among pregnant women in Ogoja Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used. A semi-structured questionnaire was designed to generate data from 422 respondents who were selected using simple and systematic sampling techniques; out of which 403 questionnaires were considered valid for analysis. This study was carried out from February to May, 2013. Data generated were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20.0) and results were presented in tables. Findings from this study shows that all respondents 403 (100%) reported to have been told about ITN out of which 222 (55.1%) respondents have used insecticide treated net. Based on frequency of ITN use, only 98 (24.3%) respondents use Insecticide treated net always, 124 (30.7%) use ITNs sometimes and 181 (44.9%) had never used insecticide treated net before. Reasons for inconsistency or non-usage were largely because it causes heat 136 (46.4%) and inhalation of poisonous chemicals used in treating the net 78 (26.6%). Only 79 (19.6%) respondents were aware of intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) and 75 (94.9%) indicated antenatal clinic as their main source of information. Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine was identified by 64 (81.0%) respondents as the drug recommended for IPT use. A few respondents 57 (14.1%) reported to have received IPT drug during antenatal clinic while 346 (85.9%) have not received any IPT drug before since their coming to the ANC center. Community-based interventions on malaria control should be intensified to increase awareness and use of malaria preventive measures in rural settings especially among the vulnerable population. Keywords: Malaria, Insecticide Treated Net, Intermittent Preventive Treatment, pregnant women
