Extra-Medical Knowledge-Related Factors Impacting Malaria Prevention among Pregnant Women in the Kirotshe Health Zone in North Kivu, Eastern DRC
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Date
2024
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Advanced Community Medicine
Abstract
Malaria remains a global problem that has significant and unacceptable consequences on the health and economic potential of the world's poorest communities. In North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and more particularly in the Kirotshe health zone, there is a problem with pregnant women adhering to malaria prevention services. However, previous studies have not linked this to extra-medical factors related to knowledge among pregnant women.
Objective: The aim of the study, therefore, is to analyze the extra-medical factors related to knowledge
and malaria prevention among pregnant women.
Method: The study was carried out in the Kirotshe health zone. A sample size of 318 pregnant women
was selected for the study. The healthcare professionals working in public health facilities in the region
were also included in the study. It targeted pregnant women in the area who contracted malaria (cases)
during pregnancy and those who did not contract malaria (controls) during pregnancy across the areas.
We used mixed methods including both a retrospective matched case-control study design and
qualitative design. Data was collected using a survey questionnaire and an interview guide and were
analyzed using qualitative and quantitative methods with the aid of SPSS 25.0.
Results: The study revealed that extra-medical factors related to knowledge of risks of malaria during
pregnancy (β = 0.9; p≤ 0.05), knowledge of ITNs (β = -0.228; p≤ 0.05), and uptake of antimalarial
drugs (β = -0.271; p≤ 0.05) were significantly related to the risk of contracting malaria among pregnant
women in the area. The study, therefore, recommends that there is a need for health system managers
in Kirotshe health zone to focus their campaigns against malaria on health literacy and knowledge
among pregnant women in the area.
Description
journal article
Keywords
Extra-medical, prevention, malaria, expectant
Citation
Bandima, A.,Lwanga, C., Otoi, S. S. & Otieno, C. (2024). Extra-medical knowledge-related factors impacting malaria prevention among pregnant women in the Kirotshe health zone in North Kivu, Eastern DRC. International Journal of Advanced Community Medicine. 7. 186-193. 10.33545/comed.2024.v7.i3c.339.