TY  - BOOK
AU  -  Jovin, Audax
AU  -   Matovelo, Dismas. K
TI  -  Knowledge and Practices on Malaria control Among Pregnant Women Admitted at Bugando Medical Centre
PY  - 2013///
CY  - Mwanza, Tanzania: 
PB  - Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [CUHAS – Bugando] :   
KW  -  
N2  - Abstract:

Background: Malaria is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. It is estimated that there are 300-500 million new cases every year; with 1.5 to 2.7 million deaths occurs worldwide. About 100 countries in the world are considered to be malaria endemic countries, almost half of which are in Africa. Fifty millions of pregnant women are exposed to malaria each year worldwide and among all cases, one fourth of all cases of severe maternal anaemia and LBW babies are linked to malaria. 

Objective: The main objective was to assess the knowledge and practices towards control among pregnant women admitted at Bugando medical centre between Augusts – September, 2012. 

Methodology: The cross sectional based study was conducted at BMC, where at total 200 admitted pregnant women were recruited in the study. Then, the interview was carried out by using English questionnaires that was translated into Kiswahili and finally the data was collected. 

Results: Most of women interviewed were aware about malaria by 98.5% with a correct link between mosquito bite by 99.5% and malaria. Most of them complained that malaria is a big problem in the community as it causes many adverse malaria related pregnancy outcome; some of complications mentioned were death 58.5%, abortion 46.5%, IUFD 21.0%, severe maternal anemia 15.5%, premature delivery 11.0% and IUGR by 5.0%

Majority of participants knew the signs & symptoms of malaria by 91.5% and only 8.5% they don’t know. The signs & symptoms mostly mentioned were fever by 72.5% headache 59.5%, GBW 55.0%, vomiting 47.0%, joint pains 31.0% and alteration of mental status by 8.0%.

Most of the participants (99.5%) knew that malaria is preventable. Different methods were identified such as ITNs by 99.9%, insecticide spray 42.0%, IRS 33.0%, bush clearing around the house 50.5% and destroying of stagnant water around the house by 51.0%. And most of them about 90.5% said that these preventive measures should be directed towards the groups mostly at risk for malaria infections like pregnant women by 62.0% and under 5 children by 75.5%. 

The practiced preventive measures were ITNs by 97.5% which is mostly used throughout the year, IRD by 13.5%, mosquito coils 1.0%, traditional methods 0.5%, insecticide spray 0.5%, bush clearing and destroying of stagnant water around the house by 2.5% each and none of them knew about malarial chemoprophylaxis.

Among those pregnant women attending ANC, 72.5% they were given IPTp – SP to prevent and their fetus against malaria, they are receiving them but don’t recognize as the preventive measure against malaria. Only 40.0% of those given the drug swallowed them at the clinic under DOT and 32.5% didn’t swallow them at the clinic. 

Conclusion: Most of pregnant women were aware about malaria and they knew what cause it. They knew that malaria is preventable and they were able to identify and mention some of the preventive measures toward malaria prevention and control. But the great problem is to practice them – ITNs possession and use is significantly convincing but the problem is the use of other measures like IRS and IPTp – SP. 

The government should put much effort towards improving the use of IPTp – SP especially on SP dosing and DOT which can reduce the adverse outcomes of malaria during pregnancy. 
Further studies are needed to assess the impact of the two measures – ITNs & IPTp – SP which are being provided together on malaria related pregnancy outcome.

ER  -