Knowledge of malaria and preventive practices among Fulani pregnant women in the savannah Region of Northern Ghana

Abstract

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2022 among 159 Fulani pregnant women. Due to the nomadic nature of the population, participants were recruited using a combination of census and snowball sampling techniques. Descriptive statistics, bivariate, and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed using SPSS version 25, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Overall, 61.0% demonstrated good knowledge of malaria, while 71.1% exhibited poor preventive practices. More than half (54.7%) owned at least one insecticide-treated net (ITN), yet only 28.9% slept under one the previous night. In multivariable models, ANC attendance was significantly associated with malaria knowledge (AOR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.12-0.83, p = 0.020), while number of children predicted preventive practice (AOR = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.10-0.90, p = 0.032). Low ITN usage underscores some knowledge-practice gap. Strengthening ANC-based malaria education, improving sustained ITN distribution and follow-up, and implementing culturally tailored community outreach could enhance malaria-in-pregnancy prevention among nomadic and hard-to-reach populations in northern Ghana.