Abstract
BackgroundParasitic infection like schistosomiasis is known to exert a negative effect on nutritional status of school-aged children. However, studies associating parasitic infections with undernutrition are scarce. Thus, this study was primarily to document the association between Schistosoma mansoni infection and undernutrition among school-aged children in a rural setting of Fincha’a Sugar Estate, Ethiopia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 453 school-aged children (5-18 years). Stool specimen was collected and examined using the standard Kato-katz technique. Children’s height-for-Age Z-score (HAZ) and Body mass index-for-Age Z- score (BAZ) was determined. Z-Scores for each nutritional index were compared with the WHO child growth standards reference values. Children were considered stunted or wasted as HAZ or BAZ falls below -2 standard deviations, respectively.ResultThe overall prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection was 53.2%. Out of the total school children examined, 11.5% and 13.2% were stunted and wasted, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to determine the relationship between Schistosoma mansoni infection and nutritional status controlling for other factors. Accordingly, stunting was not significantly associated while wasting was negatively associated with Schistosoma mansoni infection. Paternal occupation was the best predictor of stunting and wasting such that, unemployed fathers have 4.28 (95% CI; 2.13, 8.63) (p < 0.001) and 3.83, 95% CI; 1.89, 7.79) (p < 0.001) chance of having stunted and wasted children, respectively.ConclusionSchistosoma mansoni infection is highly prevalent in the study area. The high prevalence of wasting, and moderate level of stunting among study subjects in this study area indicate that they are affected by both infection and undernutrition. Therefore, regular preventive chemotherapy against S. mansoni and other control measures are recommended. Moreover, possibilities of synchronized nutritional rehabilitation and creation of employment opportunities to the families should be looked for.
Highlights
Parasitic infection like schistosomiasis is known to exert a negative effect on nutritional status of school-aged children
Schistosoma mansoni infection is highly prevalent in the study area
The high prevalence of wasting, and moderate level of stunting among study subjects in this study area indicate that they are affected by both infection and undernutrition
Summary
Parasitic infection like schistosomiasis is known to exert a negative effect on nutritional status of school-aged children. Studies associating parasitic infections with undernutrition are scarce. This study was primarily to document the association between Schistosoma mansoni infection and undernutrition among school-aged children in a rural setting of Fincha’a Sugar Estate, Ethiopia. Nutrition and health of school-aged children and adolescents in the developing world received little attention relative to those less than five years of age. There is increasing evidence, resulting in international concern, that the high level of nutritional deprivation combined with the heavy burden of disease in school age Recent studies on school-aged children have shed new information on stunting, wasting and underweight for this age group [4,5,6]. One of the factors emphasized in the 1993 World Bank report was the relationship between parasitic infection and undernutrition [10]. The relationship between undernutrition and soil transmitted helminth infection has been well established [11,12,13], but such studies have been limited only to soil transmitted helminth infections in children [14,15,16,17]
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