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

OBJECTIVES

Malaria in pregnancy remains a major public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly among marginalized populations with limited access to preventive services. This study assessed knowledge of malaria and preventive practices among nomadic Fulani pregnant women in the Savannah Region of Northern Ghana.

RESULTS

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.