In high malaria transmission regions, primigravid women generally face a higher risk of malaria infection and severe complications than multigravid women.

The material identifies primigravid and secundigravid women as more affected than multigravid women. It links parity-related protection in holoendemic settings to antibodies against pregnancy-associated parasite antigens. **Key takeaway:** Prior pregnancies may be associated with greater acquired protection in high-transmission areas.\n\n**Glossary:** **Primigravida**: a woman in her first pregnancy; **multigravida**: a woman who has had more than one pregnancy; **parity**: number of pregnancies reaching the relevant birth threshold.