Comorbidity of intestinal helminthiases among malaria outpatients of Wondo Genet health centers, southern Ethiopia: implications for integrated control

BACKGROUND: It is estimated that over a third of the world population is infected by malaria and helminthiases mainly among communities with high poverty indices. The distribution of these parasitic infections overlaps in many epidemiological settings and have varying outcomes in the host. In this paper we report the prevalence of malaria and intestinal helminthiases coinfections among malaria suspected patients and the association of helminthiases with the occurrence of malaria and its outcomes in Wondo Genet, southern Ethiopia. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study conducted from December 2009 to July 2010 in Kella, Aruma and Busa Health Centers in Wondo Genet, a total of 427 consenting febrile patients were screened for malaria and intestinal helminths infections. Malaria parasite detection and quantification were done using Giemsa stained thick and thin blood films. Helminth infections were screened and quantified by Kato-Katz thick smear method. Haemoglobin level was assessed using haemocue machine (HemoCue HB 201(+)). Difference in proportions and means were tested by Student’s t test and ANOVA while logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between variables. RESULTS: Of the total examined, 196 (45.90%) were positive for at least one helminth infection while 276 (64.64%) were positive for malaria. The prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax infections were 47.31 and 16.62%, respectively. The most common helminth parasites detected were Ascaris lumbricoides (33.96%), Trichuris trichiura (21.55%), Schistosoma mansoni (13.35%), and hookworms (6.79%). The overall malaria-helminthiases coinfection was 33.96%. The prevalence of anaemia was 43.12%. Helminthiases coinfection showed a positive correlation with the occurrence of malaria (AOR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.44–3.28; P < 0.001). Schistosoma mansoni coinfection was associated with the increased risk of developing malaria associated anaemia (OR = 14.4, 95% CI: 1.37–150.80; P = 0.026). CONCLUSION: Malaria and helminth coinfections are important causes of morbidities among the population in Wondo Genet necessitating integrated control measures. Nevertheless, further detailed studies on the consequences and pathogenesis of these coinfections are needed to institute sound control and intervention measures.