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Asa BF, Shintouo CM, Shey RA, Afoumbom MT, Siekeh N, Yoah A, Kah E, Ickowitz A, Tata CY, Asongalem E, Ghogomu SM. Prevalence, correlates of undernutrition and intestinal parasitic infection among children below 5 years living in the forest community of Ndelele, East Region of Cameroon: A cross-sectional assessment. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0278333. [PMID: 36480502 PMCID: PMC9731441 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In low- and middle-income countries, undernutrition often co-exists with intestinal parasites, especially Soil Transmitted Helminth (STH) infections in children. The collective impact of both conditions result in undernutrition and can exacerbate the general poor health status of children. A cross-sectional survey of 422 mother-child (12-59 months old) pairs from 14 villages in the District of Ndelele, East Region of Cameroon, was carried out to assess the magnitude and correlates of undernutrition and intestinal parasites. Socio-demographic data were collected from mothers and anthropometric data were collected from children. Parasitological assessment was performed using a combination of direct microscopy flotation, sedimentation and centrifugation techniques. Correlates of undernutrition and intestinal parasites were identified using multinomial logistic regression at individual and household levels. 83.77% of the children assessed for undernutrition were undernourished and 66.82% were positive for one or more intestinal parasites. It was not uncommon for the study participants to be concurrently infected with two or more intestinal parasites. The most common intestinal parasitic infections detected in the study were A. lumbricoides, E. histolytica/dispar and Hookworm infection. Multinomial logistic regression using Nutritional status as outcome showed that, children who were not exclusively breastfed were 106% (RR = 2.06; C.I = 1.12-3.80) more likely to be underweight compared to those who were exclusively breastfed. The household size of 4 to 6 persons also significantly impacted wasting (p-value = 0.007) at 7% (RR = 1.07, C.I = 0.49-2.32). Analysis by a logistic regression model with STH infection as outcome revealed that, Fingernail cleanness (p-value = 0.044; AOR = 1.75; CI = 1.09-2.78) and household size (p-value = 0.038; AOR = 0.55; CI = 0.32-0.92) were positively associated with intestinal parasite infection at the 5% significant level. This study reveals that intestinal helminthic parasitic infections (STH) and undernutrition are serious health problems in children below five in the study area. To address this dire situation, concerted efforts are needed to improve sanitation, hygiene education access, community deworming programs, and improve diets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bertha Fru Asa
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Cabirou Mounchili Shintouo
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Department of Gerontology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Robert Adamu Shey
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | | | - Nadia Siekeh
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Adolf Yoah
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Emmanuel Kah
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Amy Ickowitz
- Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) Bogor, Jawa Barat, Indonesia
| | - Caleb Yengo Tata
- Forests, Resources and People (FOREP), Botanic Gardens Limbe, Limbe, Cameroon
| | - Emmanuel Asongalem
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Stephen Mbigha Ghogomu
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- * E-mail:
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Zerdo Z, Bastiaens H, Anthierens S, Massebo F, Masne M, Biresaw G, Shewangizaw M, Tunje A, Chisha Y, Yohannes T, Van Geertruyden JP. Prevalence, intensity and endemicity of intestinal schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis and its associated factors among school-aged children in Southern Ethiopia. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4586. [PMID: 35302056 PMCID: PMC8931111 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08333-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Preventive chemotherapy (PC), the main strategy recommended by the World Health Organization to eliminate soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) and schistosomiasis (SCH), should be strengthened through identification of the remaining SCH transmission foci and evaluating its impact to get a lesson. This study was aimed to assess the prevalence of STH/SCH infections, the intensity of infections, and factors associated with STH infection among school-aged children (SAC) in Uba Debretsehay and Dara Mallo districts (previously not known to be endemic for SCH) in southern Ethiopia, October to December 2019. Structured interview questionnaire was used to collect household data, anthropometric measurements were taken and stool samples collected from 2079 children were diagnosed using the Kato-Katz technique. Generalize mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to assess the association of STH infections with potential predictors. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni in the Dara Mallo district was 34.3% (95%CI 30.9–37.9%). Light, moderate, and heavy S. mansoni infections were 15.2%, 10.9%, and 8.2% respectively. The overall prevalence of any STH infection was 33.2% with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 31.1–35.3%. The intensity of infections was light (20.9%, 11.3% & 5.3%), moderate (1.1%, 0.1% & 0.4%) and heavy (0.3%, 0% & 0%) for hookworm, whipworm and roundworms respectively. The overall moderate-to-heavy intensity of infection among the total diagnosed children was 2% (41/2079). STH infection was higher among male SAC with Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) of 1.7 (95%CI 1.4–2.1); occupation of the household head other than farmer or housewife (AOR = 0.5; 95%CI 0.3–0.8), middle [AOR = 1.1; 95%CI 1.0–1.3] or high [AOR = 0.7; 95%CI 0.5–0.9] socioeconomic status. Dara Mallo district was moderate endemic for S. mansoni; and it needs sub-district level mapping and initiating a deworming campaign. Both districts remained moderate endemic for STH. Evidence-based strategies supplementing existing interventions with the main focus of the identified factors is important to realize the set targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zerihun Zerdo
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia. .,Global Health Institute, Antwerp University, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Hilde Bastiaens
- Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Antwerp University, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sibyl Anthierens
- Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Antwerp University, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Fekadu Massebo
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
| | - Matewos Masne
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
| | - Gelila Biresaw
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
| | - Misgun Shewangizaw
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
| | - Abayneh Tunje
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
| | - Yilma Chisha
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
| | - Tsegaye Yohannes
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
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