A Cross-sectional Study on Malaria Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors among Pregnant Women in Nasarawa-South, Nigeria

Abstract

Aims: This study evaluated the prevalence of Plasmodium parasite among pregnant women attending antenatal care in selected healthcare facilities in Nasarawa-South Senatorial District, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.   Study Design:  Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, Nasarawa State University, between June 2024 and September 2024. Methodology: A total of 414 blood samples of the pregnant women attending the secondary facilities in the study area were collected and Plasmodium parasite were examined from the samples collected using thick blood film microscopy techniques. Results: The study found an overall parasite prevalence of 10.9% (45/413) among pregnant women. Prevalence was highest in younger women aged 17–20 years (23.3%, 19/82) and lowest in those aged 33–36 years (1.9%, 1/54). Education level also influenced infection rates, with the highest prevalence among women with primary education (16%, 13/81) and the lowest among uneducated and tertiary-educated women (4.3%, 1/23). Marital status and location further impacted prevalence, with single women (44.4%, 4/9) and rural residents (25.9%, 7/22) showing higher infection rates compared to married women (10.1%, 41/405) and urban dwellers (9.8%, 38/387). Conclusion: The prevalence of the parasite was low and the socio-demographic factors, blood groups and the genotypes of the pregnant women were not significantly associated with the prevalence of the parasite.