Assessment of Nurses’ Role in Malaria Prevention and Control Among Under-Five Children in Kwara State

Background: Malaria remains a leading cause of under-five morbidity and mortality in Nigeria, and community nurses are central to prevention and case management efforts. Aim: This study assessed the role of nurses in malaria prevention and control among under-five children at primary health care centres in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study recruited 95 community health nurses and 80 mothers of under-five children through multi-stage random sampling. Questionnaires and focus group discussions were used for data collection. Data were analysed using SPSS version 25. Results: Nurses were reported to adequately educate caregivers on insecticide-treated net use in 69% of observed clinic interactions. However, rapid diagnostic test utilisation was inconsistent, and referral practices for severe cases were inadequate in 42% of nurses. Nets were available in only 58% of enrolled households. Conclusion: Nurses perform central but inconsistently executed roles in malaria prevention. Capacity building on case management algorithms, regular net distribution through antenatal clinics, and supportive supervision are needed to strengthen nursing contributions to Nigeria's malaria control programme. Keywords: malaria prevention, under-five, nursing, Kwara, primary health care.