Malaria rates among pregnant women drop in Tanzania
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The Ministry of Health in Tanzania reported a decrease in malaria infections among pregnant women during their first clinic visits.
The infection rate fell from 7.7 percent in 2020 to 3.9 percent in 2025. This decline occurred alongside an increase in malaria testing for pregnant women, which rose from 96 percent in 2020 to 97 percent in 2025. Dr.
Abdallah Lusasi, the head of the Malaria Diagnosis and Treatment Unit of the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), attributed these results to the distribution of free Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP) preventive drugs and insecticide-treated nets. Early clinic visits allow healthcare providers to educate women on prevention and provide these supplies early in the pregnancy. The government also conducts indoor residual spraying to kill mosquito breeding sites in communities.
Health experts warn that malaria during pregnancy can lead to low birth weight, stillbirths, and maternal death. Data from The Lancet shows that while malaria risks have decreased in parts of Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific, it remains a global threat. In Tanzania, regional differences persist, with Katavi reporting high infection rates while Arusha and Kilimanjaro reported lower rates.
The Ministry of Health plans to continue strengthening prevention and early testing to reduce the impact of the disease on mothers and children.
