title: Malaria prevention and treatment in pregnancy: survey of current practice among private medical practitioners in Lagos, Nigeria.
abstract: We studied the practice of malaria prevention and treatment in pregnancy of 394 private medical practitioners in Lagos State, Nigeria using a self-administered pre-tested structured questionnaire. Only 39 (9.9%) respondents had correct knowledge of the World Health Organization (WHO) strategies. Malaria prophylaxis in pregnancy was offered by 336 (85.3%), but only 98 (24.9%) had correct knowledge of recommended chemoprophylaxis. Of these, 68 (17.3%) had correct knowledge of first trimester treatment, while only 41 (10.4%) had knowledge of second and third trimester treatment. Only 64 (16.2%) of respondents routinely recommended use of insecticide-treated bed nets. The most common anti-malarial drug prescribed for chemoprophylaxis was pyrimethamine (43.7%); chloroquine was the most common anti-malarial prescribed for both first trimester treatment (81.5%) and second and third trimester treatment (55.3%). The study showed that private medical practitioners have poor knowledge of malaria prophylaxis and treatment in pregnancy, and the practice of most do not conform to recommended guidelines.
authors.affiliation: FWACS FMCOG, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria derabs@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Kabiru Afolarin
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Rabiu
authors.affiliation: MB;BS MPH, Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Nosimot Omolola
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: MB;BS FWACS, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ugochi O
authors.initials: UO
authors.lastname: Nzeribe-Abangwu
authors.affiliation: FWACS FICS, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adeniyi Abiodun
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Adewunmi
authors.affiliation: MB;ChB FWACS, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Fatimat Motunrayo
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Akinlusi
authors.affiliation: FWACS FICS, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Oluwarotimi Ireti
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Akinola
authors.affiliation: MSc FMCP, Department of Pharmacology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Sunday O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Ogundele
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011739:Pyrimethamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D002738:Chloroquine; D011739:Pyrimethamine
keywords: Malaria; Nigeria; pregnancy; prevention and treatment; private medical practitioners