Factors Influencing Utilization of Intermittent Preventive Treatment and Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Bed Nets by Pregnant Women in Anambra State, Nigeria

Malaria is a global public health problem and continues to be a leading cause of death and disease in developing countries. The study investigated factors influencing utilization of Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPTp) and Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (LLINs) for prevention of malaria in pregnancy. Cross sectional descriptive survey design, probability sampling, researcher developed questionnaire, descriptive statistic, chi square and Principal Component Analysis were used for the study. The findings revealed that 46.4% of the respondents had slept under LLINs and 59% took drug for IPTp in the index pregnancy, 43.7% slept under LLINs night before the survey. Knowledge about LLINs (64%) and IPTp (76%) and availability of LLINs (42.7%) were the major factors that influenced use. Many of the respondents had poor knowledge of adverse effects of malaria in pregnancy to the mother and her unborn baby but this did not significantly influence use (p>0.05). No significant socio economic difference was found in the use of IPTp and LLINs (p>0.05). Fear of adverse effects did not significanty influence IPTp and LLINs use (P>0.05). The study concluded that the use of LLINs and drug for IPTp were still low in Anambra State due to non availability and poor knowledge.