Noble International Journal of Scientific Research ISSN(e): 2521-0246 ISSN(p): 2523-0573 Vol. 02, No. 04, pp: 19-26, 2018 Published by Noble Academic Publisher URL: www.napublisher.org Open Access 19 Prevalence of Malaria Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Faith Alive Foundation, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria Yakubu, D. P a , Kamji, N. B b , Dawet, A. c* a,b,c* Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria Abstract: Malaria remains the most devastating infectious parasitic disease responsible for maternal and childhood deaths, particularly in most African countries. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of malaria parasite among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Faith Alive Foundation, Jos North Local Government Area Plateau State Nigeria. One hundred and thirty (130) pregnant women were examined for malaria infection using Rapid Diagnostic Kits and thick/thin blood smear. The overall prevalence of 59 (45.38 %) was recorded in this study. Age group 21–25 years had the highest prevalence of 23(54.76%) thick/thin and 11(26.19%) for RDT, while the lowest prevalence of 33.33% occurred in age group 31-35 and above 40 years However, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in infection rate between the different age groups. Prevalence according to the genotype shows that women with genotype AS had the highest infection of 25(58.14 %) for microscopy and 9(29.03 %) using RDT. In relation to the trimester, women in the second trimester had the highest infection rate of 58.06 %.With parity; multigravidae mothers (fourth gravid above) had the highest infection (80.0 %). Based on the use of Long – lasting Insecticides Nets(LLINs)/ Insecticides treated Nets(INTs), women that did not use nets recorded significantly (p<0.05) highest infection of 55.26 %. The morbidity and mortality of malaria infection among pregnant women could be reduced through regular prophylaxis, proper sanitation, and regular use of Long – Lasting Insecticides Treated Nets (ITNS). Keywords: Malaria, Pregnancy, Microscopy, Rapid Diagnostic Test. 1. Introduction Malaria is a life - threatening disease, despite considerable research and control effort devoted since from time immemorial, the disease remains the most prevalent from a public health stand point ;the most common devastating parasitic disease in the tropical and sub-tropical regions [1]; [2] Malaria is a serious fatal parasitic disease characterize by paroxysm include fever with temperature of up to 40-41% at regular intervals every 48 or 72 hours (tertian or quartan) alternating with good periods of no fever, chills and anemia and have a fatal consequence leading to death and is caused by a Plasmodium species[3]. The parasites are transmitted from the blood of an infected host to the blood of an uninfected person through bite (inoculative method) by female Anopheles mosquito. There are five species of Plasmodium that can infect human there are; Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium knowlesi [4]; [5]. In a research conducted to determine the spatial variability in the complexity of the vector situation, [6] reported that in Africa An. gambiae, An. arabiensis and An. funestus are primary dominant vector species, while An. moucheti, An. nili, An. melas are secondary dominant across much of the continent, where as in Asian-Pacific region there is a highly complex situation with multi-species co-existence and variable species dominance. The risk of death from malaria is considerably higher in Africa than other parts of the world. It remains a major impediment to health in Africa, South of the Sahara. Each year there are more than 247 million cases of malaria killing between one and three million people, majority of who are young children in sub-Saharan Africa [7]. Nigeria contributes a quarter of malaria burden in Africa where over 90 % of the population of are at risk. 50 % of the population would have at least one attack per year. It is responsible for about 67 % of all clinic attendance and is the commonest cause of absenteeism from