Prevalence of Malaria Parasitaemia and Fever Among Children in a Nomadic Fulani Settlement in Niger State

Nomadic Fulani communities represent a population with unique malaria exposure patterns due to their migratory lifestyle, limited access to formal healthcare, and dependence on temporary water sources that serve as mosquito breeding sites. This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia and febrile illness among children aged 1 to 10 years in a nomadic Fulani settlement in Niger State, North Central Nigeria. A total of 220 children were enrolled during a single-day community health outreach. Finger-prick blood samples were tested using malaria rapid diagnostic tests, and axillary temperature was measured. Caregiver interviews captured health-seeking behaviour, net ownership, and access to artemisinin-based combination therapy. Malaria parasitaemia was confirmed in 49.5 percent of children, with 62.0 percent of positive cases presenting with fever. Insecticide-treated net ownership was 18.6 percent, and none of the children had received intermittent preventive treatment. Healthcare-seeking was primarily directed at traditional healers or patent medicine vendors. The study recommends integration of nomadic communities into national malaria programme interventions through mobile outreach strategies and community health worker deployment in Niger State. Keywords: malaria, nomadic communities, Fulani, Niger State, North Central Nigeria.