Low Malaria Infection After a Decade of Effective Implementation of Preventive Measures and Speciation of Plasmodium SP Among Pregnant Women Attending an Antenatal Clinic in Benue State, Nigeria

Malaria remains a serious public health threat to rural and urban inhabitants of tropical and subtropical poor communities. This study reassessed the malaria infection and its risk factors among pregnant women, and determined the speciation of the genus Plasmodium . The laboratory used a thick and thin smear Giemsa-stained and nested Polymerase Chain Reaction techniques. The infection was 11 (3.6%). Pregnant women who attended secondary school significantly had higher infection, 6(8.2%) (χ ² ₌ 14.49, p = 0.012), as well as those in the second trimester, 7(7.3%) (χ ² ₌ 15.47, p = 0.035). The significant predictors of infection were the age groups ≤ 20 years and 21–30 years with crude odds ratios (cOR) of 1.17 (%95CI:0.55–5.38; p = 0.000), and 2.67 (%95CI:1.90–6.18; p = 0.000) respectively. Pregnant women with secondary education, and those in the second trimester respectively had significant cOR of 5.40 (%95CI:2.23–40.76; p = 0.000), and 0.23 (%95CI:0.04–1.17; p = 0.040). Pregnant women who did not have drainage around their premises had a cOR of 6.62 (%95CI:1.25–40.65; p = 0.000), as well as those who had stagnant water around premises with cOR = 7.24 (%95CI:1.29–66.55; p = 0.001). The nested PCR found Plasmodium falciparum with two distinct Merozoite Surface Proteins MSP-1 having K1 and MAD20 families, and MSP-2 having FC27 and 3D7 families. It was recommended that there should be more enlightenment on keeping the drainage clean, clearing of bushes around the environment, using long lasting insecticide treated nets and wearing protective clothing especially at night to protect oneself against mosquito bites.