A total of 1000 blood specimens from donors were screened for the presence of Plasmodium species. The prevalence of Plasmodium species was 15.8% and the mean age in years of the donors screened was 31.36. The results are as summarized in the tables below.
Table 1 below shows the age distribution of P.falciparum among blood donors tested. The occurrence of this agent was more in the blood of individuals of 23-27 years age group with prevalence of 24.40 %. Donors of 38-42 years age group had the least prevalence of 9.93 %. Statistical analysis revealed that a significant relationship occurred between age and the occurrence of the parasite (P<0.05).
Table 1 below shows the age distribution of P.falciparum among blood donors tested. The occurrence of this agent was more in the blood of individuals of 23-27 years age group with prevalence of 24.40 %. Donors of 38-42 years age group had the least prevalence of 9.93 %. Statistical analysis revealed that a significant relationship occurred between age and the occurrence of the parasite (P<0.05).
Age Range (Yrs)
|
Number Tested
|
Number Positive
|
Percentage Positive
|
X2
|
18 – 22
|
98
|
13
|
13.26
|
0.45
|
23 – 27
|
250
|
61
|
24.40
|
13.89
|
28 – 32
|
224
|
34
|
15.19
|
0.065
|
33 – 37
|
212
|
28
|
13.21
|
1.073
|
38 – 42
|
141
|
14
|
9.93
|
3.67
|
43 – 47
|
75
|
8
|
10.66
|
1.49
|
Total
|
1000
|
158
|
15.8
|
20.63
|
P<0.05
Table 2
represents the distribution of Plasmodium
with respect to sex and location of the donors examined. Male donors (914)
were more involved than females (86). Higher prevalence of 16.19 percent was
observed among the males
while the females recorded a lower
prevalence of 11.63%. No significant statistical relationship exists between
sex and the occurrence of the parasite among blood donors (P> 0.05). In
terms of location, donors from urban areas (612) were more involved in the
study. Of 388 donors from rural areas, 83 (21.39%) presented with Plasmodium parasitemia. Urban dwellers
had the least prevalence (12.25%) of parasitemia. Significant statistical relationship was
shown between location and parasitemia among the donors. (P< O.O5)
Table
2: The distribution of P. falciparum with
respect to Sex and Location among Blood Donors Examined
Social
demographic factors
|
Number
Tested
|
Number
Positive
|
Percentage
Positive
|
X2
|
Sex
|
||||
Male
|
914
|
148
|
16.19
|
|
Female
|
86
|
10
|
11.63
|
1.23
|
Total
|
1000
|
158
|
15.8
|
|
Location
|
||||
Rural
|
388
|
83
|
21.39
|
|
Urban
|
612
|
75
|
12.25
|
14.9
|
Total
|
1000
|
158
|
15.8
|
(P>0.05 for sex;
P<0.05 for location)
Table 3
represents the occupational distribution of Plasmodium
among blood donors investigated. The number of Artisans who took part in
the study (176) was higher than that of other occupational categories. Farmers
had the highest prevalence (32.41%) followed by civil servants (15.65%). The
clergy participated less and had the least prevalence (12.0%) of parasitemia.
There was significant statistical relationship between occupation and the
parasite occurrence among blood donors. (P<0.05).
Table 3: Distribution of P. falciparum occurrence among Blood Donors with respect to
occupation Investigated
Occupation
|
Number
Tested
|
Number
Positive
|
Percentage
Positive
|
X2
|
Farmers
|
108
|
35
|
32.41
|
22.39
|
Artisans
|
176
|
26
|
14.77
|
0.14
|
Civil Servants
|
174
|
23
|
15.65
|
0.87
|
Traders
|
164
|
22
|
13.41
|
0.70
|
Drivers
|
127
|
16
|
12.60
|
0.98
|
Students
|
134
|
20
|
14.93
|
0.08
|
Applicants
|
92
|
13
|
14.13
|
0.19
|
Clergy
|
25
|
3
|
12.00
|
0.27
|
Total
|
1000
|
158
|
15.8
|
26.62
|
P<0.05
Table 4 shows
the relationship between the use of control measures (insecticide treated nets
and insecticides) and Plasmodium occurrence
among blood donors studied. Out of the 1000 donors screened, 5, 180, 136 and
679 reported “Always”, “Occasional”, “Rare” and “None” use of insecticide
treated mosquito nets respectively. The highest prevalence of parasitemia
(18.26%) was reported among “None” users. Statistical significant relationship
exist between the use of insecticide treated nets and parasitemia (P<0.05).
Concerning the use of insecticides, 758 individuals reported none use of it and
the prevalence of 16.23% of Plasmodium parasitemia
were reported among these donors. No donor reported using insecticide always.
There was no statistical significant relationship between Plasmodium occurrence among blood donors and the use of
insecticides. (P>0.05)
Table
4: The distribution of P. falciparum with respect to the
frequency of use of insecticides (I) and insecticide treated nets (ITN) among blood donors studied.
Frequency Use of Control Measures
|
Number
Tested
|
Number
Positive
|
Percentage
Positive
|
X2
|
||||
I
|
ITN
|
I
|
ITN
|
I
|
ITN
|
I
|
ITN
|
|
Always
|
2
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
0.38
|
0.94
|
Occasionally
|
68
|
180
|
7
|
21
|
10.29
|
11.67
|
1.55
|
2,32
|
Rarely
|
172
|
136
|
28
|
13
|
16.28
|
9.56
|
0.03
|
3.98
|
Not at all
|
788
|
679
|
123
|
124
|
16.23
|
18.26
|
0.10
|
3.09
|
Total
|
1000
|
1000
|
158
|
158
|
15.8
|
15.8
|
2.06
|
10.33
|
(P>0.05 for I ;
P<0.05 for ITN)
Keys: I =
Insecticides; and ITN = Insecticide
Treated Nets
Table 5 shows
the relationship between the use of prophylactic and therapeutic antimalarials
and the occurrence of Plasmodium among
blood donors examined. Out of 493 that
reported none use of antimalarial prophylaxis, 93 (18.86%) presented with
parasitemia. No donor reported the monthly use of this prophylaxis. Significant
relationship (P<0.05) exist between the use of antimalarial prophylaxis and Plasmodium parasitemia. In terms of the
form of therapeutic antimalarials used, Out of 480 and 75 donors that reported
use of single therapy and no formalized therapy respectively, 93 (20.2%) and 19
(25.33%) presented with parasitemia. The least prevalence (4.72%) was reported
among individuals that use combination therapy as the only form of malaria
treatment. Statistically, parasitemia was shown to be dependent on the form of
antimalarial therapy used by the donors (P<0.05).
Table
5: The distribution of P. falciparum with respect to the
frequency of
use of antimalarial prophylaxis and the form
of antimalarial therapy among blood donors researched on
Prophylactic
and Therapeutic factors Examined
|
Number Tested
|
Number Positive
|
Percentage Positive
|
X2
|
Frequency of Use of antimalaria
prophylaxis
|
||||
Monthly
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Quarterly
|
59
|
3
|
5.08
|
5.10
|
Annually
|
52
|
9
|
17.31
|
0.09
|
Only when Symptoms Appear
|
396
|
53
|
13.38
|
1.74
|
Not at all
|
493
|
93
|
18.86
|
3.48
|
Total
|
1000
|
158
|
15.8
|
10.41
|
Form of antimalarial therapy
|
||||
ST
|
480
|
97
|
20.21
|
7.01
|
ACT
|
212
|
10
|
4.72
|
19.57
|
SCT
|
233
|
32
|
13.73
|
0.73
|
NFT
|
75
|
19
|
25.33
|
5.12
|
Total
|
1000
|
158
|
15.8
|
32.46
|
(P<0.05 for both prophylactic and
therapeutic factors)
Keys: ST = Single Therapy; ACT = Artemisinin based
Combination Therapy
SCT = Single and Combination Therapy; NFT = No
Formalized Therapy
Table 6 shows
the relationship between parasitemia among blood donors and different hospitals
assayed. Out of the four hospitals used for this study, the prevalence of
17.65% and 11.73% were reported among donors from EBSUTH and Mile-4 hospital
respectively. The highest prevalence of parasitemia was reported at EBSUTH.
Statistically, there was no relationship between Plasmodium. Occurrence and the hospitals used for the study
(P>0.05).
Table
6: The prevalence of P. falciparum among blood donors with
Reference
to hospitals visited
Hospitals
|
Number
Tested
|
Number
Positive
|
Percentage
Positive
|
X2
|
EBSUTH
|
340
|
60
|
17.65
|
0.87
|
FMC
|
313
|
48
|
15.34
|
0.05
|
MILE 4
|
162
|
19
|
11.73
|
2.02
|
MMH
|
185
|
31
|
16.76
|
0.13
|
Total
|
1000
|
158
|
15.8
|
3.07
|
P>0.05
Table 7
represents the relationship between the mode of blood donation and occurrence
of Plasmodium among the donors
tested. Commercial donors constituted greater part of the population (679) and
also had the highest prevalence (17.82%). The least prevalence (8.60%) was
reported among volunteer donors. Statistical significant relationship exists
between parasitemia and the mode of blood donation in Ebonyi state (P<0.05).
Table 7: The
relationship between the mode of blood donation and the occurrence of Plasmodium among Blood
Donors Tested.
Mode of Blood
Donation
|
Number
Tested
|
Number
Positive
|
Percentage
Positive
|
X2
|
Commercial
|
679
|
121
|
17.82
|
2.83
|
Voluntary
|
93
|
8
|
8.60
|
3.622
|
Family
|
||||
Replacement
|
228
|
29
|
12.71
|
1.62
|
Total
|
1000
|
158
|
15.8
|
7.332
|
P<0.05