Factors affecting non-use of long-lasting insecticide treated nets among pregnant women in Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana

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Date
September, 2019
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Abstract
Pregnant women by virtue of their physiological status remain one of the most vulnerable groups to malaria. Malaria can adversely affect birth outcomes and can lead to a spontaneous abortion, pre-term labour, low birth weight, and stillbirth. Pregnancy on its part affects the prognosis of malaria and enhances progression to the severe form of the disease. The National Malaria Control Program therefore considers malaria in pregnancy as priority area to address. The study sought to investigate factors contributing to non-use of LLINs among pregnant women in Kumasi Metropolis. A cross-sectional design was used. Data was collected from pregnant women of all ages irrespective of the gestational age of the pregnancy at the household level between July and August 2019. In the study population 400, majority 309 (77.3%) are married women. The results indicated that 396 (99.0%) have a knowledge on how mosquito transmit malaria from one person to the other and 4 (1.0%) with no knowledge. Of 400 study population, 258 (81.6%) slept under LLIN the night prior to the study with 58 (18.4%) did not sleep under LLIN. There was no significant statistical association between socio-demographic characteristics and possession of LLIN’s and its use. The LLIN’s possession and its utilization was encouraging in the Kumasi Metropolis among pregnant women in the household as a result of free mass distribution of LLIN’s. National Malaria Control Programme should continue and sustain the free mass distribution of the LLIN’s to improve on household ownership and utilization.
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A thesis submitted to the Department of Health Promotion, Education and Disability Studies, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of degree of Master of Public Health in Health Promotion and Education.
Keywords
Insecticide treated nets, Pregnant women, Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana, Malaria
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