Prevalence and association of malaria with ABO blood group and hemoglobin level in individuals visiting Mekaneeyesus Primary Hospital, Estie District, northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Malaria continues to be a major health problem in developing sub-Saharan countries including Ethiopia. Malaria is a complex disease and its local characteristics are determined by a variety of geographical, environmental, insect vector, host, and parasite factors.Methods A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of malaria and its possible association with hemoglobin level and ABO blood group among individuals attending Mekaneeyesus Primary Hospital, Estie District, northwestern Ethiopia. Socio-demographic variables and relevant data were collected from 390 randomly selected individuals through structured questionnaire.Then, thick and thin smears were prepared from nger pricked blood samples, stained, and examined microscopically for detection and identi cation of malaria parasites. ABO blood group and hemoglobin levels of the same subjects were also determined. The data generated were entered into a computer and analyzed for descriptive and logistic regression models using SPSS version 23.0. Variables with p-value < 0.05 in multivariable logistic regression were considered as explanatory variables. ResultsThe overall prevalence of malaria was 8.5%; Plasmodium vivax (5.6%) was the most predominant, followed by P. falciparum (2.3%), and mixed infection of the two species (0.5%). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, being male (AOR = 3.48), under-ve years of age (AOR = 72.84), rural residence (AOR = 2.64), and failing to use bed net (AOR =4.65) were signi cantly associated with the risk of malaria infection. Most (14.6%) of malaria positives cases were among individuals with blood group "A", while the least number of cases were among subjects with blood group "O". Individuals with blood group "A" were about four times more likelihood of getting malaria as compared to individuals with blood group "O" (AOR= 3.74). The prevalence of anemia was 23% and signi cantly associated with malaria (p<0.05).Conclusions Malaria in the study area is still higher than the average prevalence at country level.Therefore special attention should be given to the prevention and control strategies with the objective of increasing the awareness of local community towards malaria.

Hematological Abnormalities Among Malaria Infected Adult Patients in Association with ABO Blood Groups at Jinella Health Center, Harar, Eastern Ethiopia

“…This result was in agreement with studies conducted in Colombia 49 and Ethiopia. 21 But in contrast with a study conducted in Australia. 56 This discordant result of anemia in plasmodium species might be multifactorial and incompletely understood.…”

“…This finding was supported by some studies conducted in India, 46 Nigeria, 47 and Ethiopia. 21 The high risk of anemia observed in malaria patients with blood group A might be attributed to the presence of specific receptors (band 3 and glycophorin A) and glycosylated adhesive molecules, which assist in the fast invasion of RBCs by P. falciparum . 48 …”

“…The sample size for the hematology abnormality in association with ABO blood groups was calculated in Open Epi Info 7.2.5 statistical software assuming the following assumptions: 95% confidence level, 80% power, equal unexposed to the exposed ratio (1:1), the proportion of anemia among malaria patients of A blood group (41.6%) and B blood group (22.9%). 21 This provided a sample size of 231. The sample size calculated for the proportion of malaria anemia among blood groups (231) was used for this study as it was greater than the calculated sample size for thrombocytopenia among malaria-infected patients.…”

“…According to several studies, people with blood groups A and B are more likely to develop severe malaria than people with blood group O 19 , 20 and have a higher frequency of anemia. 21 On the other hand, a few studies revealed that people with the O blood group had the highest proportion of malaria infections, followed by those with the A blood group. 19 , 22 Hematological abnormalities have been observed in malaria patients.…”

Association between Rhesus Blood Groups and Malaria Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium ovale curtisi, Plasmodium ovale wallikeri, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium vivax, and Plasmodium knowlesi are six species of Plasmodium that can infect humans and cause malaria [9]. Previous studies found an association between the ABO blood groups and P. falciparum, and people with A, B, and AB blood groups had an increased risk of Plasmodium infection than those with an O blood group [10][11][12]. In addition, people with the A and B blood groups had an increased risk of having severe malaria than those with an O blood group [13,14].…”