Abstract:
Intestinal parasites are among the most common human infections distributed throughout the
world. Helminth infections caused by soil transmitted helminthes and schistosomiasis are the
most prevalent afflictions of humans who live in developing countries. This study was aimed
to investigate the associations of intestinal helminths with blood group, anaemia and
nutritional status among patients who visited Merawi Health Centre. Structured
questionnaire was administered to gather relevant information on demographic and socioeconomic
data.
Stool specimens were processed using wet mount smear preparation and
examined for intestinal helminth infections. Haemoglobin level was measured by hematocrit
measurement using heparinized micro-hematocrit tubes and a micro-hematocrit centrifuge
and blood group was determined using an antisera haemagglutination test. Nutritional status
of the study participants was assessed using height and weight measurements. The overall
prevalence of intestinal helminth infection in the study area was 53.3%, single, double, and
triple infections being 50.9%, 1.7%, and 0.7%, respectively. The prevalence of hookworm,
Ascaris lumbricoides, Enterobius vermicularis, and Hymenolepis nana, were 33.5%, 10.4%,
2.2%, and 2%, respectively.
Among individuals who were infected with intestinal
helminth(s), the mean haemoglobin level was significantly lower in individuals with two or
three helminth species and blood type B. But, it was higher in subjects with single or double
helminth infection and blood type O. The odds of being underweight were significantly
higher in A. lumbricoides and hookworm infected individuals of age
≤5 and ≥20 years,
respectively, when compared to individuals of the same age group without intestinal
helminths (P
<0.05). The findings showed that there was no statistically significant association
between intestinal helminth infections and blood groups (P>0.05). Hookworm infections were
considered as the main cause of anaemia among patients and it was the indicator of
malnutrition in individuals of age ≥20 years (P=0.000). In conclusion, infection with multiple
intestinal helminths was associated with lower haemoglobin level, which was severe in
individuals with blood type B.
Key words: Helminth, blood group, anaemia, nutritional status.