Knowledge, Attitude And Practices of Malaria Prevention Among Pregnant Mothers

ABSTRACT

Background and objectives: The report was based on the assessment of knowledge, attitude and practices of malaria prevention among pregnant mothers attending ANC department at Ngora health Centre HC.IV in Ngora district. The objectives of the study were to determine the knowledge about malaria prevention, to examine attitude about malaria prevention and to identify the practice used to prevent malaria among pregnant mothers attending ANC department at Ngora health Centre HC.IV in Ngora district. Methods: The study used primary field data collected from the respondents and these were pregnant mothers attending ANC department at Ngora health Centre HC.IV at the time of the study and this was used as a baseline data for analysis, discussion, conclusions and recommendations. Results: The findings of the study indicated that of the 50 mothers selected, the mothers’ knowledge had 43(85.2%) positive performance with 7(14.8%) for both neutral and negative knowledge, while on attitude on malaria prevention had 35(70.4%) positive performance with 15(29.6%) for both neutral and negative. But on practice on malaria prevention, 26(51.2%) was satisfactory performance with 48.8% unsatisfactory performance. Conclusions: In spite of mothers’ positive knowledge 43(85.2%) and attitude 35(70.4%), practice is still poor with only 51.2% satisfactory. Recommendations: There should be more funding of malaria prevention and control programs by the ministry of health by not only availing effective diagnostic and treatment services but also health education services on malaria, effective health education services to be integrated into the daily diagnostic and treatment program Knowledge, Attitude And Practices of Malaria Prevention Among Pregnant Mothers iii so that every pregnant mothers receives information on malaria before leaving the facility and also community support like continued distribution of free insecticide treated mosquito nets by the government and partners to help back up the knowledge on malaria prevention.