Assessing the Coverage and Consistent Use of Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (ITNs) in the Prevention of Malaria Among Pregnant Women In The Nkoranza South District in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana.

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Date
2011-08-29
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Abstract
Pregnant women are more vulnerable to malaria than other adults; they are four times more likely to get malaria and twice as likely to die of it. In Ghana, malaria is the leading cause of morbidity accounting for about 40% of outpatients’ attendance. It was estimated that malaria accounts for 22 percent of under-five mortality and 9 percent of maternal deaths (The President’s Malaria Initiative, 2007). At Nkoranza South District, over 7,510 ITNs have been issued out since 2007. But malaria is still the leading cause of ailment in the district accounting for about 47% outpatients’ attendance. The main objective of this study was to assess the coverage and consistent use of ITNs among pregnant women in Nkoranza South District. Coverage of possession and use of ITNs was assessed through descriptive cross sectional survey method of twenty towns and villages at Nkoranza South District. Three hundred and eighty four (384) pregnant women were sampled from the study communities. The data was analysed using SPSS version 16.0 and Stata software. Descriptive statistics was employed in the analysis of field data. Possession of ITN among pregnant women in the district was low (32%) when compared to the Abuja target of 60% but its use was high (73%) among those who possessed ITN. There was no association between possession and use of ITN (p= 0.12, chi = 2.47). More long lasting nets should be imported into the country and must be highly subsidized for all and not only pregnant women and children under 5 because everybody suffers from malaria. More permanent conical nets should be imported for easy hanging even without beds. Education on ITN should be intensified and more emphasis should be laid on the re-treatment of nets since culture of net re-treatment was very low in the district.
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A Dissertation Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in Partial Fulfilment Of Requirements for the Award of Master of Public Health (Mph) Degree in Health Education and Promotion
Keywords
Pregnant Women, Coverage, ITN usage
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