Prevalence of Malaria Among Patients with Sickle Cell Disease at a Specialist Hospital in Cross River State, South South Nigeria

Individuals living with sickle cell disease occupy a paradoxical position with respect to malaria immunity: while the sickle cell trait offers partial protection against severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria, those with the full sickle cell genotype remain highly vulnerable to infection with potentially catastrophic consequences. This study examines the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia among sickle cell disease patients at a specialist hospital in Cross River State, South South Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive design was employed, recruiting 200 confirmed SCD patients aged 5 to 45 years from the haematology and sickle cell clinic of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. Thick and thin blood films were prepared and stained with Giemsa for Plasmodium species identification and parasite density estimation. Data on antimalarial prophylaxis use, bednet utilisation, last crisis episode, and current haemoglobin level were collected. Literature from 2020 to 2024 documents heightened susceptibility to vaso-occlusive crises triggered by malaria coinfection in SCD patients in southeastern Nigeria, underscoring the importance of robust prevention protocols. This study will determine infection rates and assess the relationship between parasitaemia and clinical crisis frequency. Findings will be communicated to the Cross River State Ministry of Health for strengthening malaria prevention within SCD management protocols. Keywords: malaria, sickle cell disease, parasitaemia, Cross River State, antimalarial prophylaxis.