Socio-Demographic Factors Associated with Malaria-Geohelminth Co-Infection and Syndemics in Pregnancy: A Cross Sectional Study of Pregnant Women Attending Ante Natal Care at Nandi Hills Sub County Hospital, Kenya

Aim : The study investigated the effect of different socio-demographic factors on malaria-geo-helminth co-infections in pregnant women attending Antenatal care at Nandi Hills Sub County Hospital. Methodology : study area lies within latitudes 0 0 and 0 0 34’ North and Longitudes 34 0 45’’ and 35 0 25’’ East. Study design was a cross sectional study and the participants who consented were selected randomly and requested to fill an informed consent form. About 5 grams of stool sample Stool was collected by the participants and processed immediately at the hospital using formal- ether concentration technique. Participants donated capillary blood sample by a finger prick. Thick and thin blood smears were prepared and stained using Field Stains A and B. Semi structured questionnaires were developed and administered to obtain information regarding individual socio demographics. Chi-square test and Phi and Cramer’s V test of strength of association were used to analyse the data. Results : parasite co-infection was recorded for P. falciparum-A. lumbricoides and P. falciparum -hookworm. There were no co-infections of P. falciparum-T.trichiura parasites or infection with more than two parasites. Factors that significantly ( P<.05 ) affected parasite co-infection by chi-square analysis were being married, residing in own home in the rural, having a small family size and being a middle income earner for P. falciparum -hookworm co-infections. P. falciparum-A. lumbricoides co-infection was significant only with being married. Parasites association by Phi strength of association was negative for P. falciparum-A. lumbricoides co-infection except with being single(rᵠ=.019) and residing in urban rental(rᵠ=.084). P. falciparum- hookworm co-infection association was positive except with being single (rᵠ=-.006) and staying in the estate camp (rᵠ=-.097). Conclusion : socio-demographic factors that were considered impacted differently on parasite co-infection. Association of P. falciparum and geo-helminths became variable with different socio-demographic factors. Keywords: malaria geo-helminths socio-demographics co-infection syndemics pregnancy