Socio-economic determinants of malaria prevention and treatment among pregnant women in Specialist Hospital Bauchi

Abstract

Malaria in pregnancy has remained a public health challenge in Bauchi Metropolis Nigeria, leading to stillbirths, spontaneous abortion and even maternal death. This study investigated the socio-economic determinants of prevention and treatment of malaria among pregnant women in Specialist Hospital Bauchi. The target group were pregnant women between the ages of 15-49 years old. The study was guided by Kleinman’s (1980) Explanatory Model (EM). It was a cross-sectional survey research design that adopted a quantitative method of data collection and data analysis. The study used Krejcie and Morgan (1970) formula and arrived at the sample size of 317 respondents out of the total number of 1806 pregnant women attending antenatal during the study period. Simple random sampling technique was used to collect data from respondents during antenatal sessions in Bauchi Specialist Hospital. Data was collected using a closed-ended questionnaire and was analyzed and managed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS ver. 22.0). The study findings revealed that poverty was among the prominent determinants that impede malaria prevention and treatment among expectant mothers. The study concluded that lack of income and socio-cultural barriers were found as the major determinants hindering the effective application of malaria prevention and treatment among pregnant women in Specialist Hospital Bauchi. Therefore, the study recommends that pregnant women should be given free ITNs with free malaria treatment as practice in other States of Nigeria. Additionally, health facility across Bauchi Metropolis should plan antenatal sensitization at regular interval in order to ensure all women at reproductive age have access to vital information related to malaria in pregnancy.