Haematological indices of malaria infected residents of Isu community, Onicha local government area, Ebonyi state, Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria as a major mosquito-borne public health problem is likely to initiate changes in haematological parameters of its sufferers. This study investigated the changes in haematological indices of malaria infected residents of Isu community in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. A two-stage sampling design was adopted in which selection of villages constituted the first stage/Primary Sampling Units (PSUs) where three (3) villages (Isuachara, Agbabor and Mgbala-ukwu) out of the seven villages were selected using simple random sampling. In the second stage, a simple random sample of 240 individuals was taken from the three villages using 95% confidence level and a margin of error of 6.32% with a standard deviation of 0.5. Thick blood smears of venous blood stained with Giemsa were examined microscopically for malaria parasitaemia (MP) and its intensity. Those negative for malaria parasite served as controls. Haematological indices (packed cell volume (PCV)), total leucocyte counts (TLC) and white blood cell differentials of malaria positive and negative individuals were determined using standard procedures. Packed cell volume and monocytes of malaria infected individuals were higher and differed significantly from those of uninfected individuals (p<0.05). Correlation analysis showed significant association between the total leucocyte count, packed cell volume and eosinophil count and intensity of malaria parasites. From the results of this study, intensity of malaria parasite altered the values of haematological indices of the sufferers. It was therefore recommended that the diagnosis of malaria and changes in haematological parameters of patients should go hand in hand in our health institutions for effective management and control of the infection.

Keywords: Malaria, Haematological, Indices, Parasites, Infected, Residents