KNOWLEDGE OF MALARIA PREVENTION STRATEGIES AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN NORTH-EAST, ZONE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study assessed the knowledge of malaria prevention strategies among pregnant women in
North-East, zone, Nigeria using ex-post facto research design. Multistage sampling technique
consisting of simple random, stratified, proportionate and systematic sampling techniques were
used to draw a sample from a population of 503,661 antenatal care (ANC) registered pregnant
women from six (6) states in North-east zone, Nigeria. The sampled states were; Adamawa (80,578),
Bauchi (140,345), Borno (100,345), Gombe (63,290), Taraba (54,785) and Yobe (64,321). Thus, a
total of 1,200 pregnant women attending ANC formed the respondents. The instrument for data
collection was a researcher-developed validated close-ended questionnaire. The instrument was
tested using Cronbach Alpha and a reliability index of 0.80 was obtained from the pilot study result.
The data collected was analysed using International Business Machine (IBM) Statistical Package of
Social Science (SPSS) version 25.0. The descriptive statistics of mean scores and standard
deviations were used to answer the research question. Inferential statistics of one sample t-test was
used to test formulated null hypothesis. The finding of the study revealed that; pregnant women in
North-East zone have significant knowledge of malaria prevention strategies (t = 33.275; p =
0.000). The conclusion drawn was that the participants used in this study did have the knowledge of
malaria prevention strategies. However, whether this knowledge was translated into practice by the
participants is beyond the study. Based on conclusion, it was recommended that, health educators
and concerned agencies, Ministries, Departments and Agencies of governments should double their
efforts in ensuring that knowledge of pregnant women about malaria prevention strategies is
improved on and sustained.