Addressing Malaria Prevention Practices Among Pregnant Women Through Health Worker Programmes in Southern Uganda: A Thematic Analysis

Malaria remains a significant public health issue in southern Uganda, particularly among pregnant women who are at higher risk of severe complications. A thematic analysis will be conducted on qualitative data from interviews with healthcare workers and surveys of pregnant women in Southern Uganda. Health workers reported a significant proportion (72%) of pregnant women using insecticide-treated bed nets, but there was variability in adherence to recommended use times. The thematic analysis revealed inconsistencies in the implementation of malaria prevention strategies, necessitating targeted interventions and education for healthcare providers. Healthcare training should focus on optimal usage and timing of insecticide-treated bed nets, as well as reinforcing their importance in preventing malaria among pregnant women. Treatment effect was estimated with $\text{logit}(p_i)=\beta_0+\beta^\top X_i$, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.