Insecticide Treated Nets Usage and Barriers Among PregnantWomen Attending Ante-Natal Clinic in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Malaria infection is one of the leading causes of mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa. It pose great health risks especially in pregnant women by increasing the risk of stillbirth, low birth weight and miscarriage. Aims: The study sought to assess the level of use and the barriers to utilization of Insecticides Treated Nets (ITN) among pregnant women attending ante-natal clinics at Ikenne and Sagamu Local Government Area in Ogun State, Nigeria. Methodology: The study employed a facility-based cross sectional design where five (5) ante-natal clinics in Ikenne and Sagamu Local Government Areas of Ogun State were visited between January and March, 2015. Three hundred and eighteen (318) pregnant women were selected through a multistage sample technique. The respondents were randomly selected on their antenatal clinic days. Data instrument was a self-administered questionnaire and verbal consent was sought from each respondent before administration. Upon retrieval of questionnaires, the data was coded, entered and analyzed with the use of the IBM SPSS version 21. Results: Study revealed that 86.2% (274) of the respondents had used the ITN before but only 71.5% (196) of that population were currently using one. Bivariate analysis between use of ITN and marital status was statistically significant (p = 0.036). Reported barriers to use included “net too hot” (P = .024); “net not comfortable” (P = .017) and “stressful to spread before bed” (P = .190).Conclusion: There is an urgent need for further research on the barriers to sustained use and acceptability of ITNs by pregnant women.