Malaria prevention and treatment in pregnancy: survey of current practice among private medical practitioners in Lagos, Nigeria
Rabiu, K.Afolarin.; Davies, N.Omolola.; Nzeribe-Abangwu, U.O.; Adewunmi, A.Abiodun.; Akinlusi, F.Motunrayo.; Akinola, O.Ireti.; Ogundele, S.O.
Tropical Doctor 45(1): 6-11
2015
ISSN/ISBN: 0049-4755 PMID: 25253668 DOI: 10.1177/0049475514550061Document Number: 625095
We studied the practice of malaria prevention and treatment in pregnancy of 394 private medical practitioners in Lagos State, Nigeria using a self-administered pre-tested structured questionnaire. Only 39 (9.9%) respondents had correct knowledge of the World Health Organization (WHO) strategies. Malaria prophylaxis in pregnancy was offered by 336 (85.3%), but only 98 (24.9%) had correct knowledge of recommended chemoprophylaxis. Of these, 68 (17.3%) had correct knowledge of first trimester treatment, while only 41 (10.4%) had knowledge of second and third trimester treatment. Only 64 (16.2%) of respondents routinely recommended use of insecticide-treated bed nets. The most common anti-malarial drug prescribed for chemoprophylaxis was pyrimethamine (43.7%); chloroquine was the most common anti-malarial prescribed for both first trimester treatment (81.5%) and second and third trimester treatment (55.3%). The study showed that private medical practitioners have poor knowledge of malaria prophylaxis and treatment in pregnancy, and the practice of most do not conform to recommended guidelines.