The Prevalence of Malaria infection amongst pregnant women attending antenatal at Madonna University Teaching Hospital Elele, Rivers State, Nigeria

Malaria during pregnancy constitutes a persistent public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, contributing substantially to maternal morbidity, adverse obstetric outcomes, and elevated neonatal mortality. Elucidating age-specific, gestational-stage–specific, and prevention-related patterns of Plasmodium falciparum infection is imperative for the formulation of targeted interventions in hyperendemic contexts. This cross-sectional investigation was conducted among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at Madonna University Teaching Hospital, Elele, and Rivers State, Nigeria. Maternal age, gestational trimester, and utilisation of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) were documented, and peripheral blood smears were microscopically examined for P. falciparum parasitaemia. Prevalence estimates were stratified by epidemiological risk factors. The highest burden of infection was observed among adolescents and young adults aged 16–20 years (77.8%), with prevalence declining progressively to an absence of infec,tion in the 36–40 years cohort, followed by a modest resurgence in the 41–45 years group (20.0%). First-trimester pregnancies exhibited the greatest prevalence (58.3%), with a marked reduction in the second (34.6%) and third trimesters (15.4%). ITN users demonstrated a lower infection rate (25.9%) relative to non-users (41.1%). Younger maternal age and early gestational stage were strongly associated with heightened susceptibility, whereas ITN utilisation afforded partial but incomplete protection. These findings delineate critical vulnerability windows particularly early gestation and adolescence where intensified malaria prophylaxis is paramount. While ITNs retain demonstrable protective efficacy, their limitations necessitate integrated control strategies encompassing early antenatal registration, age-specific health education, scaled ITN deployment, environmental vector management, and prompt initiation of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp).