Impact of malaria prophylaxis on Plasmodium Parasitemia among pregnant women receiving care at Federal Medical Centre, Owerri

Abstract

Background: Malaria during pregnancy harms the baby's health. As personal protection and chemoprevention therapy, insecticide-treated nets (ITN) and intermittent preventive treatment (IPTps) of malaria during pregnancy are recommended. According to the World Health Organization, the introduction of IPTp and ITN constituted a defining moment in malaria prevention in endemic areas during pregnancy. The purpose of this research was to see if there was an association between the usage of IPTp and ITNs and maternal malaria prophylaxis. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 327 pregnant women who presented at the federal medical center in Owerri. Participants' blood samples were taken for microscopic inspection to detect malaria parasites using established procedures. Pregnant women provided information on their use of IPTp and ITN. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the independent variables, and chi-square was used for categorical variables as needed using Microsoft Excel 2016. Results: There was a significant association between IPTp use in the prevention of malaria in pregnancy (P-Value = <0.001) and ITN use in the prevention of malaria in pregnancy respectively (P-Value = <0.001). Conclusions: Maternal Malaria is a major public health issue that poses severe danger to pregnant women and their fetuses. IPTp and ITN use are beneficial in malaria prevention among this population.