Prevalence and associated risk factors of malaria infection among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Yola North, Adamawa State, Nigeria

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This study determined the prevalence and associated risk factors of malaria infection among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Yola North, Adamawa State, Nigeria, between December 2017 and April 2018. Both direct microscopy and rapid diagnostic test were employed in this study to establish infection. Structured questionnaires were used to collect information from the participants. The study showed that 63 pregnant women were positive for malaria infection out of the 270 sampled. Overall malaria prevalence of 23.3% was recorded during this study. There was no significant association between malaria infection and the clinics sampled (p>0.05). Results have shown that the prevalence was relatively low, and this could be attributed to low transmission rate of malaria during dry season in Adamawa State. In relation to parity, prevalence of malaria were; primigravidae (21.6%), secundravidae (20.0%) and multigravidae (26.7%). Similarly, in relation to gestational age prevalence was first trimester (27.9%), second trimester (25.0%) and thirdtrimester (20.0%). There were no significant associations between malaria infection, parity and gestational age (p>0.05). The age-group 38 ≥ years had highest prevalence while 15-23 years had least. There was no significant association between malaria infection, educational level and occupation (p>0.05). Relating to the participants occupation, prevalence of malaria was reported as 30.0, 22.9 and 23.5% for civil servants, unemployed and business respectively. It is therefore recommended that early attendance and utilization of focused antenatal care services by all pregnant women will reduce the risk of malaria in pregnancy.
 Keywords: Risk factors; malaria; pregnant women; antenatal; Yola North.