ASSESSMENT OF OWNERSHIP AND USAGE OF INSECTICIDE-TREATED NETS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN OSISIOMA LGA, ABIA STATE

ABSTRACT Malaria is a major public health problem with substantial risk for the pregnant woman, her fetus and the newborn child. Sequelae of malaria in pregnancy include maternal anaemia, IUGR, low birth weight, and premature deliveries among others. Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) has been seen to play a role as an intermittent preventive method and should be adopted for optimal healthy life practices. The aim of this study is to determine the ownership and usage of ITNs among pregnant women in Osisioma LGA, Abia State. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study of the assessment of ownership and usage of ITNs among 253 pregnant women in Osisioma LGA, Abia State. Data was collected using questionnaires and was analyzed using SPSS. Out of the respondents, the mean age of the women is 30.0 years and SD is 41.65. Respondents were predominantly married (56.5%) and self-employed (39.9%) with more than half (76.3%) having attained a tertiary education. 97.2% of the women have heard of ITNs, with major sources of information coming from the hospital/health centers (69%), and mass media (15.7%). Majority of the respondents own at least one ITN (71.1%). Most of their sources of acquisition came from health facility (66.4%), while the rest got from the market (10.75%) and pharmacy shops (5.1%). Out of those that owned, majority of the women use ITNs (78.3%). Most women who do not use it claimed it causes heat (64.7%), the rest claimed it causes rashes (10.5%) and some don’t relax with it (6%). There is a statistical significance between respondents’ level of education and knowledge of ITNs as p-value is