Malaria still remains a challenging infection affecting the lives of several HIV infected pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa. This study was undertaken to determine malarial infection in HIV infected pregnant women in relation to sociodemographic and obstetrical factors. The study also assessed relationship between malarial infection and haemoglobin level, counts, and ART regimen, as well as predisposing risk factors that influenced occurrence of malarial infection in the women. Thick and thin blood smears were prepared and stained with Giemsa. Haemoglobin level was determined using a hematology analyzer, while the flow cytometry was used to measure counts. Sociodemographic and obstetrical parameters were obtained through the administration of questionnaires. Of the 159 HIV infected pregnant women examined, 33.3% (59/159) had malarial infection. Malarial infection was significantly higher in pregnant women who were divorced, 40.24% (33/82) , were at their first trimester (4–12 weeks), 54.8% (17/31) , had ？=？[201–500？cells/μL], 42.42% (42/99) , and those that had severe anaemia (<8？dg/L), 100.00% . However, risk factors that influenced the occurrence of malarial infection in the pregnant women were occupation (farming) , marital status (divorced) , gestation (first trimester) , haemoglobin level (Hb？< 8？dg/L) , and counts (low ) . The study reported endemicity of malaria in HIV infected pregnant women living in rural areas of Benue State, Nigeria. Malarial infection was higher in women that were divorced, and at their first trimester, had low count, and had severe anaemia. Farming, divorce, gestation, severe anaemia, and low counts were predisposing risk factors that influenced malaria occurrence in the HIV infected pregnant women. It is advocated that HIV infected pregnant women should be properly and thoroughly educated on malaria preventive measures in rural areas so as to avoid unpleasant effect of malaria during their pregnancies. 1. Introduction Malaria still remains a challenging infection affecting the lives of several HIV infected pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). At least 25 million pregnant women in malaria stable transmission areas of SSA are exposed to Plasmodium falciparum malaria each year [1]. However, HIV infection ranges from 10% to 40% and accounts for 10%–27% of malaria in pregnancy [2–4]. HIV infection has been known to augment the risks of placental and peripheral malaria, high density parasitaemia, and febrile malaria illness among pregnant women [3–6]. These women are also at an increased risk of having premature
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