South Asian Journal of Parasitology

Prevalence of Malaria and Intestinal Helminth Co-Infections Among Children of Age Under 15 Years in Isuaniocha Community Awka North Lga Anambra State Nigeria

Glory U. Nwakaogor *

Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Obiora O. Ikpeze

Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Uche C. Ngenegbo

Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

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Abstract

Malaria parasites and helminth co-infections have long been recognized as major contributors to anaemia in endemic countries. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of malaria and helminths co-infection and to determine the associated risk factors among children of age under 15 years in Isuaniocha community Awka North LGA Anambra State Nigeria. This study investigated the prevalence of malaria and intestinal helminth co-infections among children of under fifteen years in 10 villages in Isuaniocha Community Awka North Local Government Anambra State Nigeria. The study was a cross-sectional survey of blood and faecal samples collected from 390 randomly selected under 15 years old children. The study was conducted between June and July 2018 in 10 villages in Isuaniocha. Blood and stool samples were collected from participants in a clean Ethylene Diamine Tetra-acetic Acid (EDTA) and dry capped containers respectively and stored in a ice packed for transportation to the laboratory for testing. The blood sample were analyzed using microscopy (thin and thick smears) for the test for the presence of malaria parasite while the stool samples were analyzed using Kato-Katz method for the presence of helminth. The overall prevalence of malaria and helminth co-infection was 9.49%. The prevalence of malaria parasites  was 38.23% and the prevalence of helminth infections was (17.44%). The prevalence of malaria parasites and helminth co-infection among children under 15 years showed that there is no significant difference (P>0.05) among age under 15. Children below 5 years of age were more susceptible to malaria and anaemia.

Keywords: Malaria parasites, intestinal helminths, co-infection, ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (edta), endemic countries, isuaniocha

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