Parasitic infections and maternal anaemia among expectant mothers in the Dangme East District of Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Parasitic infections are of public health concern globally, particular among at risk groups such as pregnant women in developing countries. The presence of these parasites during pregnancy potentiate adverse effects to both the mother and the unborn baby. This study sought to establish the prevalence of some parasitic agents among antenatal attendees in the Dangme East District of Ghana. A cross-sectional prospective study was conduct between April and July, 2012. Venous blood specimens were collected from each participant for haemoglobin estimation and malaria microscopy. In addition participants' early morning mid-stream urine and stool specimens were analyzed microscopically for parasitic agents. RESULTS: A total of 375 pregnant women were involved in the study, of which anaemia was present in 66.4% (249/375). However, parasitic infections associated anaemia prevalence was 49.6% (186/375). In all, 186 cases of parasitic infections were observed; 171 (44.0%) were single isolated infections while 15 (4.0%) were co-infections. Plasmodium species were significantly associated with anaemia (13.3%, χ2 = 23.290, p < 0.001). Also, the presence of Schistosoma haematobium (3.7%, χ2 = 7.267, p = 0.008), Schistosoma mansoni (5.3%, χ2 = 5.414, p = 0.023) and hookworm (3.7%, χ2 = 11.267, p = 0.008) were significantly associated with anaemia in pregnancy. Except where co-infections exist (3.7%, χ2 = 11.267, p = 0.001), the rest of the single infections were insignificantly associated with anaemia. Collectively, intestinal helminthes were predominantly significant with anaemia in pregnancy (p = 0.001, χ2 = 107.800). CONCLUSION: The study revealed relatively high prevalence of parasitic infections among the study population, suggesting that about three-quarters of the anaemic mothers are either single or co-infected with parasitic agents.

Prevalence of hookworm infection: a retrospective study in Kumasi.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the prevalence of hookworm infection among patients who reported at the parasitology laboratory of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for intestinal parasitic investigation. METHOD: This retrospective study covered available data from January 2001 to December 2011. Records of patients referred to the parasitology laboratory of the hospital were manually reviewed for hookworm infection. Data on age, sex and status of hookworm infection (either present or absent) were retrieved and analyzed by using Microsoft Excel 2007 statistical package. RESULTS: A total of 47 147 patients was reported at the laboratory for intestinal parasitic investigation. Among these patients, 158 patient were positive, representing an overall prevalence of 0.3% (158/47 147). Among the positive cases, the study revealed that the proportion of individuals in age groups <1, 1 to 9, 10 to 19, 20 to 29 and 30 to 39 years were 1.3% (2), 10.8% (17), 16.5% (26), 27.2% (43) and 23.4% (37) respectively. Furthermore, people in age group 40 to 49, 50 to 59 and ≥60 years were infected in the proportion of 8.7% (14), 5.7% (9) and 7.0% (11) respectively. Among the infected patients, the number of females was 62.7% (99) while that of males was 37.3% (59). The yearly prevalence rate dropped consistently from 0.84% in 2001 to 0.11% in 2005. However it increased marginally in 2006 (0.27%) and dropped to 0.00% in 2011. CONCLUSION: Hookworm infestation was found to be generally high between April and August. However the overall prevalence was relatively low among the study population.

Gastrointestinal and urinary tract pathogenic infections among HIV seropositive patients at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal and urinary tract pathogenic infections are aggravating the incidence and progression of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection into Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) more especially in the developing countries. This study was conducted to assess the common gastrointestinal and urinary infections among HIV/AIDS patients at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Ghana between April and December 2008. FINDINGS: This work reports on gastrointestinal and urinary tract pathogenic infections among 500 HIV seropositive and 300 HIV seronegative patients. There was a 35% (175/500) prevalence of intestinal parasites among HIV seropositive patients compared to 4.3% (13/300) in HIV seronegative patients. Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium accounted for 19% (95/500) and 14% (70/500) respectively, while Schistosoma mansoni, Strongyloides stercoralis and hookworm together accounted for 2% (10/500) of intestinal parasitic infections among the HIV seropositive patients. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in urinary parasitic infection between HIV seropositive 1% (2/500) and seronegative patients 0.7% (2/300). Most, 60 (86%) out of 70, of the urinary tract infection among the HIV seropositive patients was due to bacteria with E. coli being the most predominant isolate, 28 (47%) out of 60. There was no significant difference in infections based on age and gender. CONCLUSION: G. lamblia and Cryptosporidium were the most common gastrointestinal parasites detected while bacteria accounted for majority of the urinary tract infections among the HIV seropositive patients at the hospital.