Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Schistosoma mansoni and malaria share a similar epidemiological distribution or co-endemicity. Co-infection are a global public health burden where epidemiological evidence is crucial to taking evidence-based intervention. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of Schistosoma mansoni and other intestinal Helminthes co-infection among malaria positive patients in malaria endemic areas of Northeast Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2018 to June 2019 among randomly recruited 145 microscopically confirmed malaria patients in Kemisse and Chefa Robit, Northeast Ethiopia. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was used for sociodemographic and other risk factor data; blood samples for malaria microscopy and stool samples for S. mansoni and other intestinal Helminthes examinations were collected from each participant. STATA 17 was used for analysis. Chi-square and Fishers' exact test were used as required. The internal consistency and model good ness of fitness test were checked using Cronbach's alpha and Hosmer-Lemshow test, respectively. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression model was used for analysis. Finally, variables with p < 0.05, their AOR and their 95% Confidence Intervals were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 145 patients with malaria were included in this study of which 11.3% and 49.0% respectively had poly and mono infections. From all malaria confirmed patients, 29.7% were positive for S. mansoni, which was significantly associated with pervious intestinal helminthic infection, history of swimming and fishing participants who lives near to river and having a history of crossing river by their legs without shoe. Moreover, compared with students; farmers merchants and housewives were found to be highly affected. CONCLUSIONS: The co-endemicity of S. mansoni and malaria in the current study was considerably high. Further study is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms of interaction between malaria and S. mansoni with larger sample size.