PREVALENCE OF MALARIA PARASITIC INFECTION AMONG PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN (0-5) YEARS IN KASUWAN MATA PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTER GOMBE LGA, GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA.

Malaria is a vector borne infectious disease caused by protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium and is transmitted by an infected female anopheles’ mosquito. This work was 10 aimed to determine the prevalence of malaria among children aged 0-5 years attending Primary Health Care Center Kasuwan Mata ward Gombe State from August 2025 to November 2025 both secondary and primary data were obtained from the laboratory unit in which 150 blood samples was collected using capillary blood sampling. Out of 150 samples collected and examined 117(78%) were found positive and 33 were found to be negative. The overall prevalence rate based on gender shows the males children exhibit a slightly higher prevalence of 71 (22%) as compared to the females with least of 46(39.3%). The result also revealed the distribution of malaria according to age in which the malaria infection is more prevalent within the age group of 0-2 years which had the total number of 62(52.9%) followed by 3-5 years which had the total number of 55 (47.0%). Also, the result shows there is a strong correlation between malaria and socio-economic background Children from poor households are more likely to get malaria because they are less able to afford proper prevention and treatment. It is recommended that Insecticide treated net (ITN) be made available to mothers so that the infection of malaria could be controlled in children, The use of indoor residual spraying at homes should be improved in order to kill the mosquitos and other diseases carrying vectors. Mothers and other care givers need to be empowered to treat malaria infection.