Comorbidity of Geo-Helminthes among Malaria Outpatients of the Health Facilities in Ethiopia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background: Coinfection of malaria and intestinal helminths affects one third of the global population, largely among communities with severe poverty. The spread of these parasitic infections overlays in several epidemiological locations and the host shows different outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis determine the pooled prevalence of malaria and intestinal helminthiases coinfections among malaria suspected patients in Ethiopia. Methods: Primary studies published in English language were retrieved using appropriate search terms on Google Scholar, PubMed/MEDLINE, CINHAL, Scopus, and Embase. The Joanna Briggs Institute Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument (JBI-MAStARI) was used for critical appraisal of studies. A pooled statistical meta-analysis was conducted using STATA Version 14.0 software. The heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed using the I2 statistics and Egger’s test, respectively. Duval and Tweedie’s nonparametric trim and fill analysis using the random-effect analysis. The Random effects model was used to estimate the summary prevalence of comorbidity of malaria and soil transmitted helminthiases and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). The review protocol has registered in PROSPERO number CRD42019144803. Results: We identified ten studies (n = 6633 participants) in this study. The overall pooled result showed 13% of the ambulatory patients infected by malaria and intestinal helminths concurrently in Ethiopia. The pooled prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, and mixed infections were 12, 30, and 6%, respectively. The most common intestinal helminth parasites detected were Hookworm, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Tirchuris trichiura. Conclusions: The comorbidity of malaria and intestinal helminths causes lower hemoglobin level leading to maternal anemia, preterm delivery, and still birth in pregnant women and lactating mother. School-aged children and neonates coinfected by plasmodium species and soil transmitted helminths develop cognitive impairment, protein energy malnutrition, low birth weight, small for gestational age, and gross motor delay. The Ministry of Health of Ethiopia and its international partners working on malaria elimination programs should give more emphasis to the effect of the interface of malaria and soil transmitted helminths, which calls for an integrated disease control and prevention.

Burden of neglected tropical diseases and access to medicine and diagnostics in Ethiopia: a scoping review

“…The government of Ethiopia has prioritized nine NTDs for intervention [ 10 ]. The STHs are common among both adults and school children in Ethiopia [ 26 , 39 , 41 – 44 ]. One-third of infants in Ethiopia are affected by STHs (specifically ascariasis) [ 11 ].…”

“…Systematic reviews and meta-analyses identified STH burden [ 27 – 30 , 41 , 43 , 61 , 62 ]. In five studies, the prevalence of STH in Ethiopia ranged from 13 to 52.4% [ 27 – 30 , 39 , 41 ].…”

Malaria and Helminthic Co-Infection during Pregnancy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…In addition, comorbidity of Plasmodium falciparum and helminthiasis elucidates the incidence of cervical cancer among pregnant women [52][53][54]. Moreover, during pregnancy, malaria co-infection with A. lumbricoides has been associated with an increased odds of P. falciparum infection [55,56], and malaria-Hookworm co-infection is associated with risks of increased Plasmodium parasitaemia [57,58].…”

Burden of neglected tropical diseases and access to medicine and diagnostics in Ethiopia: A scoping review

“…The government of Ethiopia has prioritized these nine NTDs for intervention (9). STHs are common among both adults and school children in Ethiopia (25,38,(40)(41)(42)(43). One-third of infants in Ethiopia are affected by STHs (speci cally ascariasis) (11).…”

“…Systematic reviews and meta-analyses identi ed STH burden (26- 29,40,42,60,61). In ve studies, the prevalence of STH in Ethiopia ranged from 13-52.4% (26-29, 38, 40), ascaris lumbricoides (8.8-14.0%) (26, 27,29,40,42), hookworm (9.5-12.5%) (27)(28)(29)40), tirchuris trichiura (29,40), strongyloides stercoralis (5.6%) (28) were the most common intestinal parasites in Ethiopia. The burden of parasite among pregnant women was 29% in Ethiopia (42).…”