Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Malaria Infection among Under-Five Children in Nigeria

Agboola, Happiness Opeyemi and Ajibola, Olumide and Lasisi, Adewale Jamiu and Adebayo, Francis and Aremu, Olatunde and Khan, Salim (2025) Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Malaria Infection among Under-Five Children in Nigeria. Nigerian Medical Journal, 66 (3). ISSN 2229-774X

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Abstract

Background: Malaria is a significant source of mortality and morbidity, particularly among children under the age of five. Meanwhile, the multi-causation theory in public health views disease and health development as underpinned by several variables, including social and demographic factors. Therefore, this study investigates the sociodemographic factors associated with malaria among under-five children in Nigeria.

Methodology: This study used secondary cross-sectional data collected from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). The sample for this study was 10,352 children. The response variable was malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) results, while the independent variables considered were children's age, residential area, zone, mosquito net ownership, gender, mother’s level of education, and wealth status. Analysis was done using bivariate analysis and binomial logistic regression at a 0.05 significance level and 95% confidence interval.

Results: Children's age was statistically significant with malaria (χ2 = 166.200, p = 0.000). Malaria had a statistically significant relationship with mother’s level of education (χ2 = 762.530, p = 0.000). The relationship between malaria and wealth index was statistically significant (χ2 = 1020.442, p = 0.000). The result shows that children living in rural areas were more prone to have malaria infection than children living in urban areas (OR = 1.633, p = 0.000).

Conclusion: Children's age, wealth index, mother’s level of education and place of residence are key predictors and factors associated with malaria infection among under-five children in Nigeria. Therefore, broad-based programmes and interventions should be increased to tackle malaria incidence and prevalence.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	10.71480/nmj.v66i3.796
Dates:	Date Event 1 September 2025 Accepted 19 September 2025 Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Malaria, Nigeria, Sociodemographic factors, Under-Five Children
Subjects:	CAH02 - subjects allied to medicine > CAH02-06 - allied health > CAH02-06-04 - environmental and public health
Divisions:	Life and Health Sciences > Health and Social Care Professions > Health Care Life and Health Sciences > Health and Social Care Professions > Social Care
Depositing User:	Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited:	21 Jan 2026 09:35
Last Modified:	21 Jan 2026 09:35
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16818

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