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*Corresponding author: E-mail: talk2vu@gmail.com; 
 
 
 

Asian Journal of Immunology 
 
2(1): 72-77, 2019; Article no.AJI.53137 
 

 
 

 

 

Malaria-related Anaemia among Children and 
Adolescents Attending General Hospitals in Obi and 

Oju Local Government Areas of Benue State 
 

V. U. Obisike1*, O. J. Agbo2, M. O. Ogbu3, J. I. Chikwendu1 and E. U. Amuta1  
 

1
Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Abia State University, Uturu, Abia, Nigeria.  

2
Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University Wukari, Nigeria. 

 
3
Department of Biological Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria. 

 
Authors’ contributions 

 
This work was carried out in collaboration among all authors. Authors VUO, MOO and EUA designed 

the study, performed the statistical analysis, wrote the protocol and wrote the first draft of the 
manuscript. Authors OJA and JIC managed the analyses of the study. Authors VUO, MOO and EUA 

managed the literature searches. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. 
 

Article Information 
 

Editor(s): 
(1) Dr. Wagner Loyola, Department of Immunology, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa),  

Concordia, Canada. 
Reviewers: 

(1) Nwagu Marcellinus Uchechukwu, Edo University, Nigeria. 
(2) Esraa Ashraf Ahmed ElHawary, Ain Shams University, Egypt. 

(3) Florencia del Puerto, Universidad Nacional de Asuncion, Paraguay. 
Complete Peer review History: http://www.sdiarticle4.com/review-history/53137 

 
 
 
 

Received 08 October 2019  
Accepted 13 December 2019 
Published 25 December 2019 

 
 

ABSTRACT 
 

Anaemia is one of the leading complications due to malaria infections. It is defined in terms of 
packed cell volume (PCV) as a PCV <32%. This study was focused on the prevalence of malaria-
related anaemia among children and adolescents attending General Hospital in Obi and Oju Local 
Government Areas of Benue State. Whole blood samples for malaria test were collected by 
fingertip pricking and vein punctured from a total of 738 children and adolescent patients that 
visited these hospitals between the months of October, 2015 to February, 2016. Rapid Diagnostic 
Test Kit (RDT) and haematocrit reader were used to determine malaria infections and PCV 
respectively. Those tested positive for malaria were 207 (106 and 101 for Obi and general hospitals 
respectively). Positive participants were further tested for anaemia and 73 (35.2%) were found 
anaemic. Distribution in the general hospitals were 34 (46.6%) and 39 (53.4%) for Obi and Oju 

Original Research Article 



 
 
 
 

Obisike et al.; AJI, 2(1): 72-77, 2019; Article no.AJI.53137 
 

 

 
73 

 

respectively. October, 2015 had the highest prevalence. Amongst those anaemic females had a 
higher prevalence of 43 (58.9%) than males 30 (41.1%), (r=0.95). Also age group 0-5 years were 
most anaemic, 31 (53.4%), (P>0.05). Conclusively, the prevalence of malaria-related anaemia 
among children and adolescents attending these hospitals of the study areas was high. Reducing 
the prevalence of malaria should be prioritized by individuals and government. 

 

 
Keywords: Anaemia; rapid diagnosis; children; malaria. 
 

1. INTRODUCTION 
 

The tropics and developing countries have been 
faced with severe public health problems which 
anaemia is one of the health challenges facing 
the area. Anaemia occurs at all stages of the life 
cycle, but is more prevalent in young children 
and pregnant women [1]  About 3.5 billion 
persons are affected by anaemia in developing 
countries [2] Loss of blood, decrease in the red 
blood cells production, and increase in red blood 
cells breakdown [3] could lead to anaemia. 
Plasmodium falciparum infection is considered 
the major cause of anaemia, especially in 
children. It retards the normal development in 
children, and constitutes a major public health 
problem in young children in the developing 
world with wide social and economic 
implications. Therefore decreased physical 
exercise tolerance and intellectual performance 
have been associated with mild anaemia,            
which may lead to a slowdown of growth in 
children [4].  
 

A lot of work has been done on malaria such as 
in the areas of prevention and control, clinical 
and laboratory diagnosis, treatment, pathology 
and pathogenesis, epidemiology and genetic 
sequencing, yet the disease is still endemic in 
the tropics and developing nations, causing so 
much pain and sorrow to several families on the 
African continent and beyond [5]. Malaria is 
caused by parasites that are transmitted to 
people through the bites of infected female 
mosquitoes; P. faciparum is the most deadly 
malaria parasite and the most prevalence [1]. 
About 70% of the disease burden worldwide and 
her pregnant women, children are found in Africa 
[6]. The death accounts for 3-5 million each year 
and majority are children below five years, 
infected mainly by P. falciparum. Malaria 
associated anaemia is a major health problem in 
setting of intense malaria transmission [7]. The 
current study was aimed to investigate regarding 
the malaria- related anaemia in children and 
adolescents attending general hospitals in Obi 
and Oju Local Government Areas of Benue 
State. 

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS  
 

2.1 Study Areas 
 
The study areas for this project work were Obi 
and Oju Local Government Areas of Benue State 
of north-central, Nigeria. They are both located in 
the Savannah zone. Obi Local Government Area 
is found in the coordinates 8º22’N and 8º46’E [3]; 
her Local Government Headquarter been 
Obarike-Ito, with 2006 population census of 
9,707 people. Oju on the other hand is located in 
the coordinates 6º51’N and 8º25’E [3]; with Oju 
as her Local Government Headquarter, 2006 
population census of 168,491. The people of the 
two Local Government Areas speak Igede as 
their major dialect; and their major occupation is 
farming. 
 

2.2 Study Population and Sample Size 
 
The study was conducted among the patients 
(Children and adolescents) attending General 
Hospital Obarike-Ito, in Obi Local Government 
Area and General Hospital Oju, in Oju Local 
Government Area. A total of 763 whole blood 
samples were collected from different patients 
that attended the hospitals from October 2015 to 
February 2016. Amongst these samples 
collected, 426 and 337 were obtained in Obi and 
Oju respectively. Malaria test was carried out, 
and followed by packed cell volume (PCV) test 
on the samples that were tested positive to 
malaria. 
 

2.3 Experimental Design    
 
The experimental design used was Variance, 
particularly Completely Randomized Design; 
from which ANOVA table was done for analysis. 
Also Chi-Square used as well as Correlation. 
 
The methods employed in this study involved two 
haematological tests – chromatographic test 
(Rapid diagnostic test), for detecting evidence of 
malaria parasites (antigens) in human blood; and 
packed cell volume (PCV) tests for anemia. 



 
 
 
 

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74 

 

 
 

Fig. 1. Map of Obi and Oju L.G.As showing the study locations [8] 
 
Packed cell volume (PCV) also called Hematocrit 
– the proportion of blood volume that is occupied 
by erythrocytes (the ratio of red blood cells to the 
whole blood volume, usually expressed in 
percentage) was determined with the use of 
Hematocrit centrifuge and Microhematocrit 
reader. Anaemia was defined as PCV of <30%. 
Mild anaemia PCV: 25-29% moderate anaemia 
PCV: 19-24% and severe anaemia PCV:                 
≤18%. 
 

Whole blood sample was used for the two tests, 
(malaria and PCV) involved. The blood was 
either gotten through pricking of fingertip or by 
venous puncture. 
 

Fingertip pricking: The finger of a patient’s 
hand (mostly third finger of the left hand) was 
firmly held and cleansed using alcohol pad. A 
sterile lancet was then used to prick the fingertip, 
and blood drop was collected in a micro pipette; 
ready to be used [3]. 
 

Venous blood: The patient’s arm was tightened 
with a tunicate and palpated for vein to become 
prominent. The skin surface of over the 
prominent vein was cleansed using alcohol pad 
or swab, then allowed to dry. The vein was 
punctured with a sterile needle, attached to a 
syringe. Whole blood was then collected in the 
syringe and transferred into an EDTA tube; ready 
to be used [3]. 

2.4 Test Procedures    
  

Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test: The whole 
blood, collected in a micropipette by fingertip 
pricking (as described above), was transferred 
onto the sample pad on malaria immunoassay 
test kit. Immediately, two drops reagent was 
applied onto the reagent pad, directly above 
sample pad; and allowed to run for 15 minutes. 
Appearance of two pink strips or bands was 
taken to be an indication that the patient is 
infected with either Plasmodium falciparum or 
one of the other three species responsible for 
human malaria [9]. 
  

For Hematocrit (packed Cell Volumme-PCV) 
Test: The whole blood collected in EDTA tube 
(as described above) was fed into a capillary 
tube (2/3 half-filled), from one end. The other end 
of the capillary tube was sealed with a sealant 
and mounted onto the micro-haematocrit 
centrifuge and centrifuged for 3 minutes at 
10,000 RPm (revolution per minute). The 
capillary, having the packed erythrocytes after 
centrifugation was then dismounted from the 
centrifuged and placed on the haematocrit 
reader, and the reader, and the reading was 
taken and recorded. 
  

3. RESULTS  
 

From the months of October, 2015 to February, 
2016, a total of 738 blood samples were 



 
 
 
 

Obisike et al.; AJI, 2(1): 72-77, 2019; Article no.AJI.53137 
 

 

 
75 

 

collected from children and adolescents for 
malaria test; out of which 207 were tested 
positive for malaria Tables 1 and 2. In General 
Hospital, Obi, a total number 106 was obtained; 
while general Hospital, Oju had a total number of 
101; with the prevalence of 24.9% and 30.0% 
respectively. Among the 207 samples tested 
positive to malaria, 73 were tested anaemic, with 
percentage prevalence of 35.2%.  Also, Obi had 
a number of 34 amongst those tested anaemic; 
while Oju had a number of 39, with prevalence of 
32.1% and 38.6% respectively. 

 

From the Fig. 2, October, 2015 had the highest 
prevalence of 50.7%; while December, 2016 had 
the lowest prevalence of 9%; with p>0.05. Fig. 3 
shows females prevalence to be 43 (58.9%), as 
against 30 (41.1%) for males, with chi-square 
value showing p>0.05. Table 3 showed that age 
range 0 – 5 had the highest prevalence of 40 
(54.8%); while age range 12 – 17 has the lowest 
prevalence of 14 (17.8%). But variance analysis 
showed that p>0.05; which revealed a non-
significant difference in the prevalence between 
the age ranges. 

Table 1. Monthly distribution of malaria-related anaemia in Obi 
 

Month No examined Positive for malaria  Anaemia 

October 98 39 (36.8%) 12 (35.8%) 

November 65 18 (17.0%) 5 (14.7) 

December 75 22 (20.8%) 7 (20.6%) 

January 96 17 (16.0%) 7 (20.6%) 

February 92 10 (9.4%) 3 (8.8%) 

Total 426 106 (24.9%) 34 (32.1%) 

 
Table 2. Monthly distribution of malaria-related anaemia in Oju 

 

Month No examined Positive for malaria  Anaemia 

October 162 64 (63.4%) 25 (64.1%) 
November 55 18 (17.8%) 7 (17.9) 
December 20 3 (3.0%) 0 
January 47 7 (6.9%) 3 (7.7%) 
February 53 9 (8.9%) 4 (10.3%) 

Total 337 101 (30.0%) 39 (38.6%) 

 

 
 

Fig. 2. Prevalence for malaria-related anaemia of each month for Obi and Oju L.G.As 
 r = 0.96; x

2
 cal = 1.05. p>0.05; d.f = 4 

 



 
 
 
 

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76 

 

Table 3. The prevalence of malaria-related anaemia with respect to age (years) 
 

Month 0 – 5 6 – 11 12 - 17 

October 17 (42.5%) 10 (50%) 4 (30.8%) 
November 8 (20.0%) 2 (10%) 2 (15.4%) 
December 4 (10.6%)  4 (20.0%) 2 (15.4%) 
January 5 (12.5%) 3 (15.0%) 4 (30.8%) 
February 6 (15%) 1 (5.0%) 1 (7.6%) 

Total  40(54.8%)  20 (27.4%) 13 (17.8%) 

Grand Total: 73     
F – calculated = 1.98; P>0.05 

 

 
 

Fig. 3. Prevalence for malaria-related anaemia with respect to sex 
r = 0.95; x

2
 cal = 6.33; p>0.05; d.f = 4 

 

4. DISCUSSION  
 
This work revealed the prevalence of Malaria-
related anaemia among the patients attending 
general Hospitals in Obi and Oju Local 
Government Areas of Benue State. The result is 
higher than that reported in Port Harcourt [10], 
Nigeria; but lower compared to previous report in 
Kano, Nigeria [11] and Benin Republic and Mali 
[12]. The result however, agrees with earlier 
report in the Brazil [13]. The reason could be the 
environmental conditions of the area, such 
factors like bushes around the residential areas, 
the sanitary conditions of the locality and belief.  
 

October, 2015 had the highest prevalence. This 
could be due to the fact that October was partly a 
rainy season; and rainy season favours breeding 
of malaria vector (mosquito). Age distribution 
revealed that age range 0 – 5 years had the 

highest prevalence, but statistical analysis 
revealed a non-significant difference in the 
prevalence between the age groups. This is 
lower than the report of Imam, [11] in Kano, 
Nigeria, but higher than that of earlier study in 
Vietnam, [14]. The high prevalence recorded in 
this age group could be attributed to the active 
nature of the group which makes them often play 
outside leaving their bodies uncovered, thereby 
exposing themselves to mosquito bite. With 
respect to sex, female population had the higher 
prevalence for anaemia, however, statistical 
analysis revealed a non-significant difference in 
the prevalence between the two sexes; as well 
as a very close correlation, unlike the previous 
finding [7], in Kenya. This could also be attributed 
to the fact that most women in the developing 
nations do a whole lot of outdoor activities 
ranging from farm work to domestic works, 
making them equally exposed to mosquitoes.    



 
 
 
 

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77 

 

5. CONCLUSION  
 

This study revealed a high prevalence of malaria-
related anaemia among children and adolescents 
attending the hospitals in Obi and Oju L.G. 
Areas, Benue State. It is an indication that 
anaemia as a complication due to malaria 
infection is a threat to the studied population of 
these areas. The prevalence of anaemia was 
highest among the females, and among age 
group 0 to 5 years. Though the prevalence of 
was high in both Local Government Areas, Oju 
had a higher prevalence than Obi. 
 

CONSENT  
 

As per international standard, patient’s written 
consent has been collected and preserved by the 
author(s). 
 

ETHICAL APPROVAL  
 

Ethical permission was granted by the hospital 
management.  
 

COMPETING INTERESTS 
 

Authors have declared that no competing 
interests exist. 
 
 

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© 2019 Obisike et al.; This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, 
provided the original work is properly cited. 

 
 

 
 

Peer-review history: 
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http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factshets/fs094/en/on
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factshets/fs094/en/on
http://www.researchgate.net/publication/221928490
http://www.researchgate.net/publication/221928490
http://www.maps/
http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/diagnosis%20treatment/rdt.html
http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/diagnosis%20treatment/rdt.html
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