Preventing malaria in pregnancy: a study of perceptions and policy implications in Mukono district, Uganda
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Date
2006
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Health policy and planning
Abstract
Although the efficacy of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) in malaria prevention is well documented,
the low coverage of ITNs in malaria endemic countries necessitates investigation on factors that limit
access to this intervention. An exploratory study was conducted in Mukono district, Uganda, to assess
perceptions and use of ITNs. Results show that malaria is perceived as a serious illness among
pregnant women and children, and there is high awareness on the benefits of ITNs. However, ITNs are
used by few people, mainly because of their high cost and the perception that the chemicals used to
treat them have dangerous effects on pregnancy and the foetus. Other factors that influence the use
of ITNs include low utilization of antenatal care, husband’s lack of interest in malaria prevention and
the perception that adolescent girls and primigravidae are at a low risk of getting malaria. The policy
implications of these findings include demystifying the negative perceptions on the chemicals used to
treat nets and subsidizing the cost of ITNs in order to increase access to them. These findings provide
important lessons for malaria control programmes that aim at increasing access to ITNs by pregnant
women in developing countries.
Description
Keywords
Malaria in pregnancy, Perceptions, Insecticide-treated nets, Uganda
Citation
Mbonye, A. K., Neema, S., & Magnussen, P. (2006). Preventing malaria in pregnancy: a study of perceptions and policy implications in Mukono district, Uganda. Health policy and planning, 21(1), 17-26. doi:10.1093/heapol/czj002