Factors associated with prevention and control practices against Zika virus infection among pregnant women in Malaysia, a dengue-endemic country

This study aimed to determine the prevention and control practices of ZIKV infection among pregnant women in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women who attended antenatal care. Only 7.8% reported that they abstain from sex or use barrier methods during sexual intercourse to prevent ZIKV transmission. The odd of abstaining from sex or using barrier methods was significantly higher among the Chinese ethnic group than the Malay ethnic group (OR=4.569; 95% CI: 2.696-7.743). Having a total ZIKV knowledge score of 12-24 was also significantly associated with higher odds of abstaining from sex or using barrier methods than a score of 0-11 (OR=2.819; 95% CI 1.682-4.725). In total, 38.6% recorded a higher mean total score for all the current mosquito control practices than before hearing of ZIKV. Participants living in bungalows or village houses (OR=2.006; 95% CI 1.023-3.936) and low-rise houses (OR=1.566; 95% CI 1.109-2.212) were more likely to have a higher mean total score of current mosquito control practices than control practices before hearing of ZIKV compared to those in high-rise houses. The deficit in ZIKV knowledge and control practices provides insight for the development of health education for pregnant women during antenatal care visits.