Background: Malaria, as a public health challenge, is still prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa with women of reproductive age in rural areas most vulnerable and have restricted access to preventive and curative options. Rural women in Nigeria are more at risk of being bitten by the malaria vectors and pregnant women are likely to suffer from adverse pregnancy outcomes. The current study reveals that even with the use of ITNs and awareness campaigns through the National Malaria Elimination Program, rural women still face numerous health problems.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the KAP level of women in rural communities of Jos East Local Government Area, Plateau State Nigeria regarding malaria prevention.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to administer questionnaires among women of child bearing age in the rural areas of Jos East. Questionnaires were used to gather data on knowledge of malaria transmission, perceived attitude towards prevention and practice of malaria prevention. The survey also asked about the ITNs ownership, malaria awareness programs and other preventive measures.

Results: The study findings indicated that the level of knowledge that the respondents possessed about malaria prevention and control was generally good with 51.8% of them getting it right about mosquito bites as the commonest route through which malaria occurs. But a fairly large percentage (42.3%) of the respondents displayed poor practices especially in the use of ITNs and the involvement in malaria awareness programs. Thus, the level of respondents’ compliance with the use of ITNs was 45.6%, but only 28.7% of respondents regularly practiced other preventive measures, including indoor spraying or draining of standing water. Out of the respondents, 63.5% offered important attitudes towards malaria prevention but limited access to health care, inadequate ITN supply, and cultural practices that discouraged preventive measures deter them.

Conclusion: The study notes that there is a gap between what people know and what they do, and calls for more accessibility to malaria control tools and looking at cultural factors.