DETERMINANTS AND UTILISATION OF MALARIA PREVENTIVE COMMODITIES AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING ANTE-NATAL CARE IN ASA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Malaria causes variety of adverse consequences in pregnant women due to invasion of the placenta by Plasmodium spp. Malaria increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome for the mother, the foetus and the new-born. Pregnant women are susceptible to episodes of severe malaria, which can result in stillbirths, spontaneous abortion and maternal death. Pregnant women constitute a significant proportion of Nigeria population and are vulnerable to malaria infection; they are ignorant and have limited access to health care services and malaria preventive commodities. The study assessed utilization of malaria preventive commodities among women attending ANC in Asa LGA of Kwara state. The Study was carried out in Asa LGA of kwara state, the LGA has a population of about 200,000. Descriptive cross section study was used for study design and study population were pregnant women, all pregnant women who were permanent residents and attending ANC were included except those that present with complications and obstetrics emergency. Sample size calculated was 402 and multistage sampling technique was used and semi-structured interviewer administer questionnaire was used for data collection. Ethical clearance was obtained from Kwara state ministry of Health and permission was given by Chairman Asa LGA and verbal and written informed consent was obtained from each of the participants before questionnaire was administered. Four hundred and two questionnaires was administered to pregnant women with Mean Age of 29.64±6.45. Two hundred and eighty three (70.4%) were Muslim, 243(60.4%) were Yoruba and I66(41.3%) had secondary education. Major occupation of respondents was trading, 185 of them comes from extended family and 306(76.1 %) were married. 23.9% has good knowledge about malaria preventives commodities and 43.1% has positive attitudes towards malaria preventives commodities. It can be concluded from this study that knowledge and attitude of the pregnant women affects utilization of malaria preventives commodities and heat was the major factor why some women refused to use LLIN. Other factors that affect utilization of various form of malaria preventives commodities were availability and affordability. Health workers in the LOA should organize health education workshop that will be targeted towards malaria prevention in pregnancy, State government should embark on mass distribution campaign LLIN and other forms of malaria prevention commodities should be make available and affordable. Non-governmental organization should support the state government in making malaria preventives commodities available.