Association between Sickle Cell Trait and Low Density Parasitaemia in a P. falciparum Malaria Holoendemic Region of Western Kenya

Aims: The frequency of the mutant gene for sickle cell is widely distributed in the subSaharan Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. There is epidemiologic evidence that sickle cell trait confers a survival advantage against malaria and that the selection pressure due to malaria has resulted in high frequencies of the mutant gene in areas of high malaria transmission. We carried out a study to look at the relationship between sickle cell trait, age, haemoglobin level, and malaria parasite density. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study between the months of October and December, 2004 in Kombewa Division of Kisumu West District, a P. falciparum malaria