Schistosoma mansoni in pregnancy and associations with anaemia in northwest Tanzania.
Schistosomiasis among pregnant women has been inadequately investigated. In order to determine the importance of Schistosoma mansoni in this subgroup, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of 972 women in Tanzania and investigated the prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni, hookworm and malaria and their associations with anaemia. Overall, 63.5% of women were infected with S. mansoni, with prevalence highest among younger women and decreasing with increasing age. The prevalence of hookworm was 56.3%, and 16.4% of women had malaria parasitaemia. Overall, 66.4% of women were anaemic. Increased risk of anaemia was associated with heavy infection with S. mansoni but not hookworm or Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia.
Ajanga
Antony
A
Department of Infectious and Tropical Disease, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK.
Lwambo
Nicholas J S
NJ
Blair
Lynsey
L
Nyandindi
Ursuline
U
Fenwick
Alan
A
Brooker
Simon
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000469:parasitology*; D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000469:parasitology*; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000469:parasitology*; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000150:complications*; D013636:Tanzania