Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Among Children Under Five in Ilorin, Kwara State: A Cross-Sectional Study

Malaria remains a leading cause of childhood morbidity in Nigeria, with Plasmodium falciparum accounting for the majority of infections in sub-Saharan Africa. This study examined the prevalence of P. falciparum malaria among children under five years attending primary healthcare centres in Ilorin, Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. A cross-sectional design was adopted, involving 320 children recruited through systematic random sampling. Thick and thin blood films were examined using Giemsa staining, and rapid diagnostic tests were used for confirmation. Data on demographic characteristics, nutritional status, and household socioeconomic indicators were obtained via interviewer-administered questionnaires. Results showed a prevalence rate of 41.2 percent, with children aged 12 to 36 months recording the highest infection rates. Anaemia was significantly associated with parasitaemia in 68 percent of positive cases. Households lacking window nets and those near stagnant water bodies had significantly higher infection rates. The study concludes that targeted vector control interventions and nutritional support programmes remain urgently needed in peri-urban communities of North Central Nigeria. These findings contribute to local epidemiological data essential for the National Malaria Elimination Programme and inform district-level planning for at-risk under-five populations. Keywords: Plasmodium falciparum, malaria prevalence, children under five, Ilorin, North Central Nigeria.