Challenges With the Use of Insecticide Treated Nets Among Pregnant Women in Ife-Ijesha Zone, South Western Nigeria

Background: Malaria in pregnancy cannot be controlled if there is poor compliance with preventive strategies including use of insecticide treated nets (ITN). This study examined the use of ITN during pregnancy and also identified various factors that are associated with the use /non-use among the pregnant women. Methodology: This study was carried out in antenatal clinics of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex. It employed a descriptive cross sectional study design and was conducted among 320 pregnant women who gave their consent within the four weeks study period. Data was collected using facilitated self administered, pretested, semistructured questionnaire. Univariate and bivariate analysis were done using SPSS version 16 and critical level was set at 0.05. Results: Majority of the respondents (88.1%) did not sleep under ITN. Reasons for non-compliance include ignorance (55.8%), unavailability of the product (52.7%), exorbitant price (24%), personal beliefs about the chemicals used (23.3%) and inconveniences associated with use (12%). Having treated malaria in the index pregnancy was significantly associated with sleeping under ITN as 21.1% of them slept under ITN compared to none among those that have not had treatment (Fishers p=0.001). However, none of the socio-demographic variables tested had statistically significant association with the use of ITN. Journal of Community Medicine & Primary Health vol 23 (1-2) 2011