Prevalence, Associated Risk Factors, and the Impact of Malaria on Anemia in Pregnant Women Attending ANC in North Gondar Zone, Northern Ethiopia

Malaria during pregnancy continues to be a major public health concern in sub‐Saharan Africa, contributing to maternal anemia and adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study is aimed at assessing the prevalence of malaria, its associated risk factors, and its impact on anemia among pregnant women attending antenatal care in North Gondar Zone, Northern Ethiopia. A facility‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted with 308 pregnant women selected through systematic random sampling. Sociodemographic, environmental, and behavioral data were collected using structured questionnaires. Malaria infection was diagnosed with Giemsa‐stained blood smears, and hemoglobin concentration was measured using a Hemocue Hb 201+ analyzer. Data analysis was performed using SPSS Version 26, with bivariate and multivariate logistic regression used to identify factors associated with malaria. The impact of malaria on anemia was assessed using adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The overall malaria prevalence was 13.6%, with higher odds observed among women aged ≥ 40 years (AOR = 4.8; 95% CI: 1.4–16.0), rural residents (AOR = 2.8; 95% CI: 1.2–6.5), and women with low education (AOR = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.0–6.7). Environmental and behavioral factors, including living within 1 km of water bodies (AOR = 3.0; 95% CI: 1.4–6.5), unscreened houses (AOR = 3.6; 95% CI: 1.6–8.2), and inconsistent or nonuse of insecticide‐treated nets (AOR = 7.2; 95% CI: 2.9–18.0), were also significant. Among malaria‐infected women, 40% were anemic, and malaria significantly increased the risk of anemia. These findings highlight malaria as a key contributor to maternal anemia and underscore the importance of targeted interventions, including consistent ITN use, environmental management, community education, and integrated malaria–anemia screening during antenatal care, to improve maternal health in endemic areas.