Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42231386›Full record

ArticleMalaria journal2026

Use of insecticide-treated nets (ITN) and intermittent preventive treatment (IPTp) for malaria prevention and its associated factors among pregnant women in Sub-Sahara Africa.

Eyob Akalewold Alemu, Mahlet Alehegn Tesfa, Solomon Gedlu Nigatu, Tilahun Yemanu Birhan, Gelila Yitageasu, Lidetu Demoze, Asefa Adimasu Taddese

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Article in Malaria journal, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Eyob Akalewold AlemuDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia. eyobmgn@gmail.com.
Mahlet Alehegn TesfaDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Solomon Gedlu NigatuDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Tilahun Yemanu BirhanDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Gelila YitageasuDepartment of Environmental Health and Occupational Health, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Lidetu DemozeDepartment of Environmental Health and Occupational Health, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Asefa Adimasu TaddeseDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMalaria is a significant public health issue in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for 96% of global malaria-related deaths. Malaria during pregnancy can lead to maternal morbidity and death, stillbirths, and newborn deaths. Prevention and control policies in areas of stable transmission emphasize a combination of intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy (IPTp) and use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), along with effective case management. Neither ITNs nor IPTp provide complete protection alone, and since IPTp and ITNs work synergistically, combining these interventions could be highly effective. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that pregnant women receive IPTp, starting early in the second trimester, with at least three doses, regardless of ITN use. Therefore, this study aims to assess the utilization of ITNs and IPTp and the factors influencing their use among pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa.

methodsWe used the most recent Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS) or Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from 18 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, conducted between 2018 and 2024. A weighted sample of 63,561 women who had given birth in the 3 years preceding the survey was included in this analysis. Pooled estimates for the utilization of both insecticide-treated nets (ITN) and IPTp were reported with 95% confidence intervals (CI). To determine factors associated with utilization, we performed a multilevel multinomial regression analysis. Variables with a p-value < 0.05 or whose ARRR confidence interval did not include one were considered significant factors associated with malaria preventive measures utilization among pregnant women.

resultsAmong our weighted sample of 63,561 pregnant women, the following utilization rates of malaria preventive measures were observed: 28.9% (95% CI 28.4, 29.3%) used both an ITN (slept under one the previous night) and IPTp (3 or more doses), and 17.6% (95% CI 17.2, 18.0%) used neither ITN nor IPTp. Multilevel multinomial regression analysis revealed that age, educational status, sex of household head, wealth index, mass media exposure, residence and sub-region of SSA were significant factors associated with ITN and IPTp utilization.

conclusionFewer than one-third of expectant mothers took advantage of combined ITN and IPTp malaria prevention strategies. Both community-level and individual-level predictors should be considered when developing strategies and implementing programs run by both governmental and non-governmental organizations in order to achieve the global goal of reducing malaria by 90% by 2030.

Indexed as

AntimalarialsInsecticide-Treated BednetsMalariaMosquito ControlAdolescentAdultAfrica South of the SaharaFemaleHumansMiddle AgedPregnancyYoung AdultAntimalarialsITN and IPTpMalaria preventionPregnancySub-Sahara Africa

Identifiers

PMID42231386
PMCPMC13445754

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.