Abstract

ABSTRACT
Background: Malaria has become a serious health problem to developing countries leading to death of infants and pregnant women. Regular evaluations of attitudes towards malaria disease and understanding of malaria-related practices are essential for prevention and control of the disease in endemic areas such as Nigeria.
Objective: This study was aimed at investigating the attitudes and self-practices of pregnant women towards malaria prevention and control.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using 404 pregnant women receiving antenatal care from 10 hospitals in Nsukka, Nigeria. and administered a validated questionnaire. We used a 14-item scale to assess their attitude and 10 point scale to assess their attitude forand self- practices towards malaria prevention and control. respectively.
Results: Our results showed that 81.4 % of the pregnant women had either secondary or tertiary education and 975 % of them were married. About 51% and 49% of mothers pregnant women had negative and positive attitude towards malaria prevention and control respectively. Pregnant womenWomen with low and high self-practice account for 59% while 41% of them had high self-practice in malaria prevention and control accounted for 59 and 41 % respectively.
Conclusion: Pregnant women in Nsukka had negative attitude and a corresponding low self-practice towards malaria prevention and control. We recommend tTraining on good malaria prevention practices sought necessary for pregnant women.of women on good malaria prevention practices.

Key words: Attitudes, Self-practices, pregnant women, Malaria