Despite concerted efforts to combat malaria, it remains a major health hazard globally, especially, in the tropical regions of the world. This work studied the perception of the prevalence of malaria among pregnant women in Ondo State, Nigeria. A household survey of 785 women in pregnancy from selected areas of Akoko N/W, Akoko S/E, Akure North, Owo, Ilaje, and Okitipupa from different terrains (highland, lowland, and wetland) of the region was conducted using a structured questionnaire. The Human Ecology of Disease and Health Belief Model was adopted. Analyses were done using percentages, ANOVA, homogeneity of variance, and Chi-square at p≥ 0.05. Mosquito effect (41.3%) and dirty environment (24.3%) were identified by pregnant women as the most common causes of malaria across all the terrains. General body weakness and headache (40.4%) are the effects of malaria on pregnant women. About 47% claimed they had an idea of the adverse effects of malaria on pregnant women and their fetuses. More than 77.5% thought that good hygiene can prevent malaria. A high proportion of the respondents (84.4%) agree with the use of bed nets by pregnant women as a preventive measure. Although variations occur in the perception of malaria prevalence among pregnant women across the three terrains, most respondents in the region are well aware of the widespread of malaria and its causes. Variations in malaria prevalence across the locations as denoted by the number of times treated for malaria (F= 3.808) and treatment number per year (F=45.674) were significant. Homogeneity of variance (.000) shows that malaria prevalence and perception were highly significant in the wetland (.000), a bit lower (.001) in the lowland, and lowest (.044) in the highland. Relief and perception of malaria influenced the susceptibility of women to malaria attacks during pregnancy.
Akanbi et al. (Tue,) studied this question.