An Evaluation of the Levels of Subclinical Malaria Infection and Haemolysis among Residents of Opobo, Rivers State, Nigeria

Aim: The study was aimed at evaluating the levels of subclinical malaria infection and haemolysis among the residents of Opobo, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Study Design: A cross sectional study design was used. The subjects were grouped into males and females and comparisons were made between positive and negative subjects of the same gender and positive subjects of different gender.

Place and Duration of Study: The study area was Opobo Town in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Nigeria. The study was carried out within August 2nd to August 26th, 2019 and a total of 89 apparently healthy subjects were recruited, 35 males and 54 females, aged between 16 – 70 years.

Methodology: Malaria parasite identification was done by thick and thin film using Giemsa’s stain, packed cell volume was by microhaematocrit method, plasma haemoglobin concentration and whole blood haemoglobin concentration was determined by cyanmethaemoglobin method.

Results: The result revealed a total of 24.72% positivity and 75.28% negativity for malaria parasite infection. Among the males, 17.14% positivity and 82.86% negativity for malaria parasite infection were observed while that of the females was 20.37% positivity and 79.63% negativity. In comparison of the studied parameters made between females infected with malaria parasites and those that were not infected with malaria parasites, there was no statistical significant difference at p<0.05 in plasma haemoglobin and percentage haemolysis. In comparison of the studied parameters between males infected with malaria parasites and those not infected with malaria parasites, there was no statistical significant difference in plasma haemoglobin and percentage haemolysis. On gender based comparison, there was also no statistical significant difference in level haemolysis.

Conclusion: The study has revealed a prevalence rate of 24.72% for subclinical malaria infection and the percentage haemolysis of red blood cells in malaria infected subjects residing in Opobo Town compared to subjects without malaria parasite was not statistically significant. Based on gender difference, males were affected more than females, but the level of red blood cell haemolysis was not statistically significant after comparison.