Perceptions and practices for preventing malaria among expectant mothers attending Bubalya Health Centre III in Butaleja District

Abstract

The study was a descriptive cross-section study with the aim of assessing the perceptions and practices regarding malaria prevention during pregnancy in Bubalya Subcounty, Butaleja district and explore ways to scale-up malaria prevention interventions. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire targeting expectant mothers that sought for antenatal care from Bubalya health centre (III), located in Bubalya sub-county-Butaleja district in eastern Uganda. A questionnaire was used to gain insight into a respondent‟s knowledge, attitudes and practices towards malaria. Majority of the respondents (45.35%) were married and (52.33%) of the respondents were unemployed. The majority of the respondents had no formal education (32.56 %). Majority, 82 (95.35 %), of the respondents reported to have suffered from malaria before while majority of the respondents, 84 (95.35%), Knew or heard of the symptoms of malaria. Sources of information varied amongst pregnant women with Health centre as the main source (43.02 %). Majority of the respondents (68.60 %) reported to have ever selfmedicated. Only 45.35 % of the respondents made any attempt to take herbal medicine while 74.42 % knew what anti-malarial to take while pregnant. Majority of the respondents, 95.35 %, 91.86 %, and 76.74 %, knew what antenatal care was, its benefits and first course of action to be taken if she had fever respectively. The highest percentage (26.74 %) of respondents knew that everyone in the house should sleep under a mosquito treated bed net. The results showed that there is still a disconnection between what pregnant women know about malaria, its negative effects especially towards the unborn child and health-seeking behaviour for treatment. Public education is necessary to address the few but highly negativeimpact knowledge gaps highlighted by the study. For example, some pregnant women thought that they can never fall sick from malaria since they have blood group O.