Social and Cultural Factors Affecting Uptake of Malaria Interventions in Pregnancy in Africa
Author Information
Author(s): Christopher Pell, Lianne Straus, Erin V. W. Andrew, Arantza Meñaca, Robert Pool
Primary Institution: Centre de Recerca en Salut Internacional de Barcelona (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Hypothesis
What are the social and cultural factors that influence the uptake of malaria interventions during pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa?
Conclusion
The study found that social and cultural factors significantly influence pregnant women's access to malaria interventions, with local understandings of illness and healthcare impacting their behavior.
Supporting Evidence
- Local disease categories often do not correspond to biomedical definitions of malaria.
- Pregnant women are viewed as particularly vulnerable to malaria infection.
- Health workers' attitudes and behaviors can deter women from accessing ANC services.
- Household decision-making dynamics influence women's access to malaria interventions.
Takeaway
This study looked at how pregnant women in Africa think about and respond to malaria treatments, showing that their beliefs and community attitudes really matter.
Methodology
A systematic review of qualitative studies was conducted, analyzing 37 articles focused on social and cultural factors affecting malaria interventions in pregnancy.
Potential Biases
Potential biases due to the reliance on qualitative data and the limited scope of some studies.
Limitations
Many studies were descriptive and lacked depth in exploring the underlying social and cultural factors.
Participant Demographics
The studies included pregnant women, community members, health workers, and policy makers, primarily from sub-Saharan Africa.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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