Declining Malaria Prevalence in Nigerian Children, New Research Reveals

New research published in the Open Research Africa journal has shown that the prevalence of malaria in children under 5 years in Anambra State, Nigeria, is declining. However, the sustained transmission of malaria threatens to reverse this decline, particularly during the rainy transmission season. Researchers from Nnamdi Azikiwe University conducted a community-based cross-sectional study among 130 consenting adults aged 18 years and above, finding that 26.15% of participants were confirmed to be infected with Plasmodium falciparum.

Key Takeaways:

• The prevalence of malaria in children under 5 years in Anambra State, Nigeria, is declining, according to the research.
• Asymptomatic malaria is responsible for persistent malaria transmission, with 26.15% of participants in the study confirmed to be infected with Plasmodium falciparum.
• The researchers found that there was an overreliance on personal feelings for malaria diagnosis and that covering water containers around a house could be an effective protective measure against asymptomatic malaria.
• Having the financial means to access resources for malaria prevention can lead to healthier behaviors and actions that reduce malaria transmission.
• The study suggests that education and access to resources for malaria prevention can play a significant role in reducing the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria.
• The researchers identified that the odds of having asymptomatic malaria were lower in those who agreed that the cost of malaria prevention tools is reasonable compared to those who did not.

Statistics:

• 26.15% of the 130 participants in the study were confirmed to be infected with Plasmodium falciparum.
• The odds ratio (OR) for having asymptomatic malaria was 0.29/0.27, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.07/0.06 - 1.24.
• 34 out of 130 participants (26.15%) were confirmed to be infected with Plasmodium falciparum.

Sources:

• Economic empowerment and various preventive strategies play a role in reducing asymptomatic malaria towards the end of the rainy season [version 2; peer review: 3 approved, 1 approved with reservations, 1 not approved]. Open Research Africa, 2025,8.
• NewsRx. Nnamdi Azikiwe University Researchers Further Understanding of Malaria (Economic empowerment and various preventive strategies play a role in reducing asymptomatic malaria towards the end of the rainy season [version 2; peer review: 3 approved, ...). Malaria Weekly. October 20, 2025; p 38.