Investigating the association between blood type and susceptibility to COVID-19 in Blantyre, Malawi
| dc.contributor.author | Fanizo Hastings Zaithwa, Gwedeza | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2022-03-22T12:47:38Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2022-03-22T12:47:38Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2022-02-02 | |
| dc.description.abstract | This will be Retrospective Cohort study, and will be conducted at Chichiri Prison in Blantyre Malawi. PROBLEM STATEMENT Malawi is one of the African countries that have been greatly affected by the rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic. The resources required in the fight against COVID-19 in developing countries including Malawi have been inadequate, and there is a need for evidence based scientific strategies for resource prioritization in Malawi. Studies have shown that identifying the most susceptible blood groups to SARS CoV-2 helps in targeting resources to the most vulnerable patient. However, in Malawi, there is paucity of data on association between blood group and susceptibility to SARS CoV-2 to enforce such interventions. OBJECTIVES The main objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between ABO blood groups and susceptibility to SARS CoV-2 at Chichiri Prison in Blantyre, Malawi. The specific objectives are: i) To evaluate the blood group distribution among individuals who got tested for SARS CoV- 2, regardless of the test result, ii) To determine the percentage of each blood group among inmates previously tested for COVID-19, and iii) To establish the association between blood group and susceptibility to SARS CoV-2 among the study participants. METHODOLOGY The study will be conducted on a study population of inmates from the age of 18 to 59, who tested for COVID-19 at Chichiri prison in Blantyre Malawi. COVID-19 test result records will be used to identify individuals who got tested. Those who tested positive will be identified by their names and be given consent forms. From those who will consent to the study, 34 study participants will be selected using Simple Random Sampling method. A capillary blood sample will be collected from the COVID-19 positive participants. Forward grouping method will be used to determine the blood group of the participants. The same protocol shall be followed for COVID-19 negative individuals who will act as a control group. Data will be recorded on data collection sheets, SPSS software will be used to analyze the collected data. Safety precaution such us putting on PPE, proper waste disposal, using disinfectants and washing hands shall be followed to mitigate any risks that may rise during the study DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS The results will be disseminated through a presentation to the Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Department. A copy of results will also be submitted to the College of Medicine Research Ethics Committee (COMREC) for review and to the COM library for access by other scholars. Another one will be submitted to the MLS department and we also plan to publish the results for public access. | en_US |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Self Sponsored | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://rscarchive.kuhes.ac.mw/handle/20.500.12988/941 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.publisher | Kamuzu University of Health Sciences | en_US |
| dc.relation.ispartofseries | U.11/21/3517; | |
| dc.subject | Investigating the association between blood type and susceptibility to COVID-19 | en_US |
| dc.title | Investigating the association between blood type and susceptibility to COVID-19 in Blantyre, Malawi | en_US |
| dc.type | Other | en_US |