Risk Factors Behind Malaria Prevalence in Pregnant Women: Insights from Sabon-Gari, Zaria, Nigeria.

Abstract

Malaria remains a pervasive threat to pregnant women, significantly impacting maternal and fetal health. This study explores the socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum malaria among pregnant women in Sabon-Gari, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. We collected 200 blood samples from women attending antenatal care clinics using a purposive sampling approach, analyzing these samples through microscopic blood film examination. A structured questionnaire facilitated the collection of crucial socio-demographic and anthropometric data, which was evaluated with Epi Info software.

The results indicated a notable malaria prevalence of 31.0% (95% CI: 0.60–1.99). The analysis highlighted several key risk factors: increasing maternal age (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 95% CI: 1.25 - 4.37), low levels of education (AOR 95% CI: 3.48 – 16.51), multiple pregnancies (AOR 95% CI: 1.28–4.79), residence in rural areas (AOR 95% CI: 1.28–4.48), and being in the first trimester of pregnancy (AOR 95% CI: 1.96–9.09). P. falciparum was the only malaria species detected, emphasizing the critical need for informed public health strategies tailored to address these vulnerabilities.

This research underscores the urgent requirement for targeted interventions to reduce malaria infection rates among pregnant women, particularly in high-risk groups identified by our findings in Sabon-Gari, Zaria.