Malaria, a disease caused by an infected female Anopheles mosquito, is completely
preventable, treatable and curable. The disease is considered not just a regional but
global priority with a death toll of about 400,000 people globally every year. The
most vulnerable group to malaria and its negative consequences are the pregnant women
and children under the age of five years. In pregnancy, malaria predisposes expectant
mothers to an increased risk of anaemia, spontaneous abortions, stillbirths,
premature deliveries, intra-uterine growth retardation and low birth weight babies,
and these are all important causes of infant mortality. Accordingly, malaria during
pregnancy remains a serious public health problem. The aim of this study was to ascertain
the occurrence of malaria and possible risk factors for malaria infection among pregnant
women in Nigeria. Nigeria, with a population of over two million, is the most populous
country in Africa and occupying seventh position in the world. In Nigeria, there are about
110 million clinically diagnosed malaria cases and 300,000 malaria-related childhood
deaths annually. Malaria in Nigeria, which already overburdens the already weakened
health system, adversely affects the social and economic sectors of the country.
Pregnant women are among the most susceptible to malaria infection. Knowledge of their
malaria infection status is an important yardstick to measure the effectiveness of any
malaria control programme.
Keywords: Malaria, Pregnant women, Risk factor and Knowledge.

Download: FULL TEXT PDF