Content area
Background
Malaria and soil‐transmitted helminth (STH) co‐infection have serious public health implications, especially in the sub‐Saharan African region, affecting pregnant women. These infections during pregnancy may lead to anemia, which could cause maternal and perinatal complications.
Objective
To assess the prevalence of malaria and STH co‐infection and its association with anemia among pregnant women visiting Mizan–Tepi University Teaching Hospital (MTUTH) from September 1 to December 30, 2024.
Methods
An institution‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted from September 1 to December 30, 2024, among pregnant women attending antenatal care at MTUTH. Blood and stool samples were collected from each pregnant woman using a systematic random sampling method. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected using a prestructured questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between malaria–STH co‐infections and anemia. Data entry and analysis were done using Epi‐data Version 4.6 and SPSS Version 27.0. A p value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Result
The following prevalences were recorded: malaria (24.4%, 81/332), STHs (33.7%, 112/332), and their co‐infection (12.7%, 42/332). The overall prevalence of anemia was 57.5%, while it was 18.4%, 26.2%, and 9.6% for pregnant women infected with malaria, STH, and co‐infection, respectively. Handwashing practice before meals and residence (rural) showed a significant association with malaria–STH co‐infection with (AOR = 12.748, p = 0.010) and (AOR = 2.459, p = 0.001), respectively. Washing vegetables and fruits before eating has been shown to have an association with malaria–STH co‐infection (AOR = 12.420, p = 0.017) and (AOR = 0.240, p = 0.004), respectively.
Conclusion
The prevalence of malaria, STHs, and their co‐infections was high, contributing to the high prevalence of anemia among the study participants. Malaria and STH infection showed a strong statistical association with anemia.
Details
Anemia;
Malaria;
Womens health;
Pregnancy;
Public health;
Sampling techniques;
Sanitation;
Questionnaires;
Chronic illnesses;
Regression analysis;
Developing countries--LDCs;
Disease transmission;
Statistical analysis;
Random sampling;
Meals;
Consent;
Sample size;
Teaching hospitals;
Parasites;
Sampling methods;
Hospitals;
Statistical sampling;
Sociodemographics;
Data collection;
Vector-borne diseases;
Bivariate analysis;
Tropical diseases
; Assefa, Samuel 1
; Tesfaye, Tarekegn 2
; Alemayehu, Bezuayehu 3
1 Department of Medical Laboratory Science, , College of Medicine and Health Sciences, , Mizan-Tepi University, , Mizan-Aman, , Ethiopia,
2 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, , School of Pharmacy, , College of Medicine and Health Sciences, , Mizan-Tepi University, , Mizan-Aman, , Ethiopia,
3 Department of Environmental Health, , College of Medicine and Health Sciences, , Mizan-Tepi University, , Mizan-Aman, , Ethiopia,