PREVALENCE OF MALARIA, ITS ASSOCIATION WITH ABO BLOOD GROUP AND IT’SASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS AMONG ACUTE FEBRILE PATIENT ATTENDING WORABE HEALTH CENTER, SILTE ZONE, SOUTH ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Malaria is caused by an obligate, intra cellular protozoa parasite of genus plasmodium species. The virulence of plasmodium species has been associated with the capacity of the infected RBC to adhere to uninfected RBCs, leading to resetting of cells. The majority of study was focused only on prevalence and risk factors. But, no more study conducted for further investigation about the significance of ABO blood group and parasite density on prevalence of malaria infection. Therefore, this study was aimed at filling the above gap in the study area. Objective: The objectives of the study was to determine the prevalence of malaria infection andits association with ABO blood group among acute febrile patients attending at Werabe health center from March 2023 to August 2023 in silte zone, werabe town, Ethiopia. Methodology: A cross sectional study design was conducted to determine the association of malaria infection with ABO blood group antigens and it’s associated risk factors at Worabe health center from May to July 2023.384 participants was included in the study by using convenient sampling Technique . Data was entered and analyzed by SPSS and finally analysedby bivariate and multivariate logistic regression . Finally, factors with P values ≤.05 were considered statistically significant. Result ;Out of a total of 384 patients who visited at werabe health center for medical attention, 56(14.6%)are found to be infected with plasmodium parasites as detected by microscopy, among which 42(12.3%), 11(7.6%), and 3(0.5%) are belong to Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum and mixed infection respectively. All patients examined for malaria are also tested for ABO bloodgroups.Accordingly,48.6%,27.1%,21.5%,and 2.6% are found to be blood types of O,A,B and AB ,respectively(x2=4.66,P=0.86) .Out of 56 infected patients,42.8% 28.6%,19.6%and 8.9% are plasmodium infected patients with blood groups A, O, B and AB respectively . Conclusion: The overall prevalence of malaria was 14.6% and Plasmodium vivax is the dominant species in the study site . This study revealed that individuals of blood group A are more susceptible to plasmodium infection