Journal of Infectious Diseases &
Preventive Medicine
1
J Infect Dis Preve Med, Vol. 9 Iss. 9 No: 1000238
OPEN ACCESS Freely available online
Review Article
Correspondence to: Omoge O. Adeyemi, Department of Public Health, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria, E-mail: omogeadeyemi@gmail.
com
Received: October 07, 2021; Accepted: October 21, 2021; Published: October 28, 2021
Citation: Adeyemi OO (2021) Association between Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions of Malaria in
Pregnancy among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics at Hospitals in Okitipupa, Ondo State, Nigeria. J Infect Dis Preve Med. 9: 238.
Copyright: © 2021 Adeyemi OO. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which
permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Association between Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Knowledge,
Attitudes and Perceptions of Malaria in Pregnancy among Pregnant
Women Attending Antenatal Clinics at Hospitals in Okitipupa, Ondo
State, Nigeria
Omoge O. Adeyemi
*
Department of Public Health, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
INTRODUCTION
Malaria is a life threatening parasitic disease transmitted by female
Anopheles mosquitoes. The infection during pregnancy is a major
public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions of the
world. In most endemic areas of Africa, pregnant women are the
main adult risk group for malaria. Every year at least 30 million
women in malaria prone areas of Africa become pregnant; most of
these women live in areas of relatively stable malaria transmission
[1].
Malaria in pregnancy is an obstetric, social and medical problem in
most parts of the world particularly the tropical and sub – tropical
countries. Moreover, approximately 50 million women are living
in malaria – endemic countries throughout the world become
pregnant in each year. It is worth noting that, malaria worsens
during pregnancy and together with anaemia is responsible for
10,000 maternal deaths and 200,000 infant deaths per year [2].
ABSTRACT
Background: Malaria is a life threatening parasitic disease caused by Plasmodium Species, transmitted by female
Anopheles mosquitoes. Malaria in pregnancy is an obstetric, social and public health problem of all over the world
particularly in tropical and sub – tropical countries which can have serious consequences for both the mother and
her unborn child.
Objective: The objective of this study was to gain more understanding on the socio – demographic characteristics and
knowledge, attitudes and perceptions on malaria in pregnancy among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics
at hospitals in Okitipupa, Ondo state.
Methodology: This was a descriptive cross – sectional study. A multistage random sampling method was used to
select 165 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at hospitals in Okitipupa. Quantitative method was used for
data collection. A self – administered was used for data collection. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23.
Results: The mean age of the respondents was 28.6+5.1 years, 66.1% were between 26 -35 years, 95.2% were
Christians, 84.2% were Yoruba, and 52.7% had secondary school education, 81.8% have had 1-3 pregnancies and
births, 40.6% were in their third trimesters. 35.8% were traders. The chi – square revealed that there is a relationship
between age (p<0.001), level of education (p<0.000), health care centre (p<0.001) and Knowledge, Attitudes and
Perceptions of malaria in pregnancy.
Conclusion: This study therefore concluded that malaria in pregnancy is a global burden which it’s present and
future effects are very dangerous to the health of the individual, mother and the foetus in the womb, family, society
and the nation at large. It is therefore recommended that health education on malaria in pregnancy should be
upheld in high esteem. A clear understanding of the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of a particular community
can inform the design of Behavioural Change Communication (BCC) campaigns to measure the risk influence
acceptance and use of any malaria control measures.
Keywords: Knowledge; Attitudes; Perceptions; Malaria; Pregnancy