Pregnant Women’s Adherence to Malaria Treatment in Ondo State, Nigeria

Malaria is a major risk to lives and development in Nigeria and other pan endemic regions. Pregnant women and children are at greater risk of this vector borne disease. Several efforts had been put in place towards prevention and treatment but negligible success hard been recorded.
Studies on malaria related maternal mortality in Nigeria have focused largely on preventive behaviours and healthcare providers’ knowledge of treatment regimen. Negligible attention has been paid to adherence of the care seekers to treatment in relevant contexts. Employing both qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques, the study established that adherence to malaria treatment among pregnant women in the area was influenced by social, residential and demographic factors in both rural and urban areas of the state. Expectant mothers without formal education reported high adherence to medication (r=-631 p< .034) than those of higher educational status, indicating that the level of education does not necessarily influence adherence to medication.