The role of mass media in the use of insecticide treated bednets and integration of intermittent preventive therapy for malaria prevention among pregnant women in Nigeria

Arogundade D Ekundayo, Society for family Health
Samson B Adebayo, Society for family Health
Jennifer Anyanti, Society for Family Health
Adedeji Wale, Society for Family Health
Gilpin Uzo, Society for Family Health

Malaria during pregnancy is a major public health problem in Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African countries especially in malaria endemic areas. It increases the risk of low birth weight, child/maternal morbidity and mortality. This paper addresses impact of radio campaigns on the benefits of insecticide treated bednet (ITN) among pregnant women in Nigeria. The study respondents were selected through a multistage sampling technique. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to determine influence of factors that are associated with use of ITN among pregnant women in Nigeria. Respondents who knew that sleeping under ITN prevents malaria were 3.1 times more likely to sleep under net (p<0.0001). Those who listened to radio are about 1.56 times more likely to use ITN (p=0.020) while respondents who had heard of Society for Family Health’s campaigns on ITN are 1.53 times more likely to use bednet (p=0.019).