A study to determine the knowledge and incidence of malaria among pregnant mothers at mbereshi rural health centre,kawambwa district.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the knowledge and incidence of malaria among pregnant mothers. Most of the literature revealed that malaria is a public health problem. It is on an increase in tropical countries especially the sub-Saharan Africa where the warm and humid climate favors the breeding of anopheles mosquitoes on the pools of stagnant water. Due to the increase in malaria cases, a concerted effort is being made by governments and non-governmental organizations to eradicate it. A non-experimental descriptive design was used. The study was conducted at Mbereshi Rural Health Center, Kawambwa District. The study sample comprised 50 respondents. A systematic sampling method was used for the selection of mothers. Data was collected by the use of a structured interview schedule in order to accommodate subjects that cannot write or read. The duration for data collection was four (4) weeks from the first week through to the 4th week of September, 2003. The data collected was then analyzed manually and findings were presented in cross tabulations and frequency tables. After the analysis of data, the findings revealed that the pregnant mothers had knowledge on malaria but at different levels despite the fact that the majority (80%) had only primary school education. The majority of the mothers who were more knowledgeable on malaria fell in the age group ranging from 15 years to 29 years. The study findings also established that despite the high level of knowledge on malaria among women, the incidence of malaria in pregnancy was still high (52%). It was also established that despite the bed nets being sold at a subsidized price which is affordable to them by using their family income, only 50% of the mothers used the bed nets.