Malaria and tyhoid fever co-infection among patients seeking health care services at Bukoto H/C III in Kampala City-Uganda

Abstract

A randomized cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2022 to determine the proportion of patients with malaria and typhoid fever co-infection and to evaluate the risk factors associated with malaria and typhoid fever co-infection in Bukoto Health Center III, Kampala City-Uganda where the two infections are endemic. Malaria RDTs and microscopy methods were used to diagnose malaria, whereas typhoid RdTs and widal test methods were used to diagnose typhoid fever. There was a positive correlation between malaria and typhoid fever and the two infections were dependent on each other (p=0.017). Out of 189 participants enrolled, 40 (21.16%) had malaria, 73 (38.62%) had typhoid fever, and 22 (11.64%) had both malaria and typhoid fever. Bivariate analysis revealed that, lack of formal education, low income status, eating unwashed fruits, not washing hands before eating food, staying in an area without a built sewage system, staying near a swamp, suffering from typhoid or malaria, not sleeping under a mosquito net and drinking un-boiled water were significantly associated with co-infection (p<0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that lack of formal education was the overall risk factor. Individuals who lacked formal education were two (2) times likely to have co-infection as compared to those with primary education (OR=2.851, 95% CI 0.883-9.207). To contrast, individuals who lacked formal education were eight (8) times more likely to suffer from co-infection as compared to their counterparts with secondary education (OR=8.172, 95% CI 1.542-43.319). Staying away from the swamp was however a protective factor against co-infection (OR=0.112, 95% CI 0.038–0.331).