Vivian Mpanga¹, Alfred Maluwa^2*, Ursula Kafulafula³, Mercy Pindani², Kaye Bultemeier⁴

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¹ Malawi College of Health Sciences, Blantyre Campus, Blantyre, Malawi.
² University of Malawi, Kamuzu College of Nursing, Lilongwe Campus, Lilongwe, Malawi.
³ University of Malawi, Kamuzu College of Nursing, Blantyre Campus, Blantyre, Malawi.
⁴ Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA.
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Abstract: A study was conducted to determine the comprehension of pregnant women on malaria risk factors during pregnancy. Comprehension of Malaria risks is important to ensure compliance to prevention methods and treatment by the pregnant women and hence optimizes the pregnancy outcomes. The study was conducted in 2012 at three health facilities, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Ndirande health Centre and St. Joseph Mission Hospital in Malawi. The study design was descriptive and utilized quantitative data collection and analysis methods on a random sample of 316 antenatal mothers. The study targeted antenatal mothers who were aged between 15 and 49 years, in the gestation period of 28 to 36 weeks and able to converse in English or vernacular language. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data which were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Most of the participants (79.4%, n = 251) knew the risk factors of malaria during pregnancy but very few (18.4%, n = 58) knew about intermittent prevention treatment despite taking SP as prescribed. The motivation factors for taking SP were husband support and the desire to protect their babies and themselves from Malaria. Although the comprehension of the intermittent prevention treatment among the women was low, the women were motivated to adhere to the treatment when instructed by the healthcare workers due to the desire for good health for themselves and their unborn babies. Husbands were the most significant other that motivated the pregnant women to adhere to treatment. Results show that there is a need for healthcare workers to facilitate comprehension of intermittent prevention treatment among pregnant mothers.

Keywords: Direct Observation Treatment (DoT), Intermittent Prevention Treatment (IPT), Malaria Risk in Pregnancy, Adherence to Anti-Malaria Chemoprophylaxis, Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP), Malaria Parasite

Cite this paper: Mpanga, V. , Maluwa, A. , Kafulafula, U. , Pindani, M. and Bultemeier, K. (2014) Comprehension of Risk Factors of Malaria during Pregnancy among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care in Malawi. Open Journal of Nursing, 4, 896-905. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2014.412095.

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