Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Malaria among Pregnant Women Attending Selected Public Health Facilities within Katsina Metropolis, Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria remains a major threat and concern for public health, especially in developing countries. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence and risk factors associated with malaria among pregnant women within Katsina metropolis. The study was conducted among 400 antenatal attendees in selected public health facilities within Katsina metropolis from January 2022 to June 2022. Venous blood samples were collected from each consenting participant, immediately dispensed into EDTA containers and transported to the laboratory for further analysis. The samples were screened microscopically for Plasmodium parasites. Risk factors, socio-demographic information, and other maternal characteristics of the participants were obtained using questionnaires. The BMI of the pregnant women was also calculated using the BMI calculator after measuring their weights and heights. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and odd ratio analysis at p ≤ 0.05 level of significance. The overall prevalence of malaria was 24.25%. The major factors that are found to have significant association with malaria prevalence in the study area were level of education, occupation, BMI, and spraying of insecticide before sleeping (P<0.05). Prior knowledge of malaria is not associated with its prevalence while prior knowledge of anemia is extremely associated with its prevalence in the study area. The only risk factor for the co-existence of malaria and anemia in the study area is parity status. Consequently, consistent environmental cleaning and raising awareness among expectant mothers will go a long way towards reducing, if not completely eliminating, malaria in the study area.