Soil-transmitted helminths and haemoglobin status among Afghan children in World Food Programme assisted schools.
In recent years there have been major socio-economic changes within Afghanistan such that the present public health burden of soil-transmitted helminths (STH), especially that within school-aged children, remains to be determined. A baseline parasitological survey was therefore carried out in four defined areas of Afghanistan to better assess the distribution, prevalence and intensity of STH infections prior to a nationwide de-worming campaign beginning within World Food Programme assisted schools. A cross-sectional examination of 1001 children aged between 8 and 15 years old revealed that approximately half (47.2%) were infected with at least one STH. Infections with Ascaris lumbricoides were most widespread (40.9%) and elevated prevalences were detected in urban environments; for example, schoolchildren in Kabul were more likely to be infected (OR=2.2, 95% CI 1.6-3.0) than elsewhere and these infections were often of higher intensity (OR=7.6, 95% CI 4.9-11.8). Trichuris trichiura (9.9%) and hookworms (0.7%), previously unknown from Afghanistan, were encountered. The blood haemoglobin concentration of surveyed children was also assessed: 4% resulted to be anaemic (Hb<11 g dl(-1)), and 0.4% to be severely anaemic (Hb<7 g dl(-1)).
Gabrielli
A F
AF
Public Health Laboratory Ivo de Carneri, Pemba Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania. A.Gabrielli@imperial.ac.uk
Ramsan
M
M
Naumann
C
C
Tsogzolmaa
D
D
Bojang
B
B
Khoshal
M H
MH
Connolly
M
M
Stothard
J R
JR
Montresor
A
A
Savioli
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000346:Afghanistan; D000723:Ancylostomatoidea; D000818:Animals; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D017164:Ascaris lumbricoides; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006304:Health Status; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006725:Hookworm Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010274:Parasitology / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology*; D014257:Trichuriasis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D014258:Trichuris
D006454:Hemoglobins; D012987:Soil