Prevalence and Associated Factors of Malaria among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic at a Specialist Referral Hospital in Onitsha, South-East Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Malaria in pregnancy (MiP) remains a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to maternal anemia, placental insufficiency, low birth weight, and neonatal mortality. Nigeria bears a substantial proportion of the global malaria burden despite ongoing preventive interventions. Objective: To determine the prevalence of malaria and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted among 125 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital, Onitsha. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected using structured questionnaires. Venous blood samples were examined for malaria parasites using Giemsa-stained thick blood smear microscopy. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24. Chi-square test was used to assess associations, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The overall prevalence of malaria parasitemia was 37.6% (47/125). No statistically significant association was observed between malaria prevalence and age, marital status, occupation, educational level, trimester, exposure to mosquito-infested areas, use of insecticide-treated nets, or mosquito repellents (p > 0.05). Parity demonstrated a statistically significant association with malaria prevalence (p = 0.0265), with multigravidae showing higher susceptibility. Conclusion: Malaria prevalence among pregnant women in Onitsha remains high. Parity is a significant determinant of infection, suggesting that parity may play a role and warrants further investigation in larger studies.