PREVALANCE AND SOCIO ECONOMIC RISK FACTOR OF PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM MALARIA AMOUNG PREGNANT WOMEN IN ITAS,BAUCHI STATE

This study assessed the prevalence and socioeconomic risk factors of Plasmodium falciparum malaria among pregnant women attending antenatal care at General Hospital Itas, Bauchi State, Nigeria. A total of 100 pregnant women aged 15 years and above with fever symptoms were enrolled between November 2024 and the study end date. Venous blood samples were collected and examined using standard thick and thin blood smear microscopy. Structured questionnaires captured demographic and socioeconomic variables. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. The overall prevalence of P. falciparum infection was 62%. Infection was most frequent in the 26–30 year age group (19%), followed by 15–20 years (18%), 21–25 years (15%), and 31–35 years (10%). Higher prevalence correlated with proximity to stagnant water, poor environmental sanitation, and lower socioeconomic status, including limited education and low household income. Knowledge of malaria prevention was moderate; while 75% reported using insecticide-treated nets, many respondents lived near mosquito-breeding sites and reported inadequate vector-control practices. The findings highlight an urgent need for intensified malaria prevention among pregnant women in rural Bauchi State. Recommendations include strengthened health education, routine distribution and proper use of insecticide-treated nets, environmental sanitation campaigns, and targeted vector-control measures such as drainage and culvert construction to eliminate breeding sites.