Prevalence of Malaria and Helicobacter Pylori Coinfection and Associated Sociodemographic Factors among Blood Donors in Douala General Hospital

Background: The malaria parasite Plasmodium is intra-erythrocyte hence can be transmitted by transfusion of any blood component containing infected red blood cells. Helicobacter pylori infection affects more than half of the human population worldwide. Infection remains asymptomatic in most individuals, although some individuals develop acute gastritis, peptic or duodenal ulcers, gastric cancer, and mucosa associated tissue lymphoma. H. pylori infection have been implicated in some haematological manifestations such as anaemia and micronutrient deficiency.

Objective: This research was designed to determine the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia and H. pylori coinfection in association with sociodemographic characteristics among donors in Douala General Hospital.

Methodology: The study was a hospital-based study carried out from January to May 2022. The study population comprised of 106 donors who came to the hospital laboratory for blood donation. A structured questionnaire was used to get demographic and clinical data. Two ml of blood was collected from individuals to prepare a thick and thin blood film for malaria parasite determination and to centrifuge at 3000 rpm for 5 minutes to obtain plasma for H. pylori test strip.

Results and Discussion: The overall prevalence of H. pylori in the study area was 70.8%. The female donors had a prevalence of 72.0%. A greater proportion of blood group O donors had H. pylori than groups A, AB and B but this difference was not significant (P-value = 0.571). The prevalence of malaria parasites infection was 36.8%. Those of blood group A had a higher prevalence rate of 42.3% (11/26). Out of the 106 donors, 23 (21.7%) had malaria and H. pylori coinfection. 68 (64.2%) donors had a mono-infection that is either having malaria mono-infection or H. pylori mono-infection and 15 (14.2%) had no infection. Malaria and H. pylori coinfection was higher in female donors than males (OR = 1.059, 95% Cl 0.359 -3.119, P =0.917), in donors aged below 25 years old (OR = 0.338, 95% Cl 0.075 - 1.535, P =0.160), replacement donors (OR = 1.350, 95% Cl 0.460 – 3.964, P =0.585); blood donors of blood group AB (OR = 0.654, 95% Cl 0.181 – 2.366, P =0.517) and Rhesus negative donors (OR = 1.500, 95% Cl 0.130 – 17.36, P =0.746).

Conclusion: The prevalence of H. pylori infection and Malaria among blood donors in Douala General Hospital were high and coinfection was higher in females than males. Both malaria parasites and H. pylori infections have been implicated in blood parameters such as anaemia and micronutrient deficiency. It is therefore recommended that routine screening for malaria parasites and H. pylori be done in blood banks before transfusion for a high blood quality.