"When I am with my husband, I do not feel mosquito bite": Insecticide-treated net usage among pregnant women, Accra, Ghana. Issue 2 (13th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Quist, Mary Anita; Adomah-Afari, Augustine
• Is Part Of: International journal of health care quality assurance. Volume 30:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 148
• Page End: 159
• Publication Date: 2017-03-13
• Subjects: Pregnancy -- Ante natal care -- Community members -- Insecticide treated nets -- Malaria -- Pregnant women; Medical care -- Quality control -- Periodicals; 362.1068
• DOI: 10.1108/IJHCQA-03-2016-0032
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0952-6862

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore how socio-cultural beliefs and practices could influence the knowledge, attitude and perception of insecticide-treated net (ITN) use in the control of malaria amongst pregnant women attending antenatal clinic. Design/methodology/approach: Data were gathered using interviews and documentary review. Framework analysis was applied to classify emerging themes and the findings interpreted using the health belief model. Findings: The findings showed that the pregnant women had appreciable knowledge, both the positive and negative attitudes and the perceptions of insecticide treated nets. To most of them, sleeping under an ITN would not affect pregnancy/cause abortion, but rather prevent mosquito bites and associated malaria. Research limitations/implications: The limitations include the sample size of participants and health facilities used. Lack of application of a quantitative research method meant that the authors could not quantify the findings to ensure generalisation to the entire population. Practical implications: The findings suggest that health policy makers, implementers and health professionals need to appreciate the perception and the attitude of pregnant women when designing policy guidelines for the malaria control programme. Social implications: This paper helps to elucidate on how socio-cultural beliefs and practices could influence the knowledge, attitude and perception of ITN usage amongst both pregnant women and people in malaria endemic communities. Originality/value: This paper suggests that health policy makers, implementers and health professionals have to devise strategies to address socio-cultural beliefs and practices in the scaling up of malaria control programmes.