title: Perception and attitudes towards preventives of malaria infection during pregnancy in Enugu State, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study is to explore and document perceptions and attitude associated with uptake of interventions to prevent malaria in pregnancy infection during pregnancy in Enugu State, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional study in three local government areas in Enugu State to identify the people's perceptions and attitudes towards sleeping under insecticide-treated bednets and uptake of recommended doses of intermittent presumptive treatment during pregnancy. In-depth interview guides were employed to collect data from health workers and mothers who delivered within 6 months preceding the study, while focus group discussion guides were employed in collecting data from grandmothers and fathers of children born within 6 months preceding the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The people expressed fairly good knowledge of malaria, having lived in the malaria-endemic communities. However, some were ignorant on what should be done to prevent malaria in pregnancy. Those who were aware of the use of insecticide-treated bednets and intermittent presumptive treatment during pregnancy however lamented the attitude of the health workers, who make access to these interventions difficult.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Efforts to prevent malaria in pregnancy should focus on providing health education to pregnant women and their partners, who reinforce what the women are told during antenatal care. The attitude of health workers towards patients, who need these interventions, should be targeted for change.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology/Anthropology, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nsukka, 410001, Nigeria. nkechi.onyeneho@unn.edu.ng.
authors.forename: Nkechi G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Onyeneho
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology/Anthropology, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nsukka, 410001, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ngozi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Idemili-Aronu
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology/Anthropology, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nsukka, 410001, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ijeoma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Igwe
authors.affiliation: Humanities Unit, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Felicia U
authors.initials: FU
authors.lastname: Iremeka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D057148:Insecticide-Treated Bednets / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009035:Mothers; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018454:Spouses
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials
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