Prevalence of malaria and use of malaria risk reduction measures among resettled pregnant women in South Sudan

BACKGROUND: The study assessed aspects of malaria infection, prevention and treatment in a population of resettled pregnant women in South Sudan.\n\nMETHODS: During April and May 2008, a cross-sectional study was carried out to estimate malaria prevalence and to assess the use of malaria risk reduction measures and their associations with selected background characteristics. Two hundred and twenty women were tested for malaria parasitaemia and questioned about their malaria prevention and treatment practices.\n\nRESULTS: The results showed a prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia of 9.1%. No statistically significant associations were observed between selected background characteristics and malaria infection status. However, school attendance was significantly associated with insecticide-treated net ownership (OR = 6.52, 95% CI 2.37-17.94; p = 0.001) and access to malaria diagnosis and treatment (OR = 3.20, 95% CI 1.26-8.16; p = 0.015).\n\nCONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that educational attainment need not be very advanced to affect practices of malaria prevention and treatment. Primary school attendance was a stronger predictor for use of malaria risk reduction measures than any of the other selected background characteristics. Educational attainment, information and communication about malaria prevention and control play a pivotal role in increasing and improving use of malaria risk reduction measures.