Prevalence and risk factors associated with worm infestation in pre-school children (6-23 months) in selected blocks of Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, India.
BACKGROUND
Intestinal worm infestation is widely prevalent in developing countries and can result in impaired nutrition and development.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate prevalence of and risk factors for intestinal geohelminths and other intestinal parasites in children aged 6 to 23 months.


METHODS
Cross sectional study in rural India.


METHODS
Proportionate population size sampling method was used to randomly select 15 villages per block. Thereafter, house-to-house survey was done to recruit eligible children and obtain fecal sample for microbiological examination.


METHODS
Univariate distribution of variables was assessed and comparison between categorical variables and continuous variables was done using a Chi-square test and student's t-test, respectively. Odds ratio was calculated to assess associations.


RESULTS
Overall 926 children were recruited and 909 fecal samples examined. Combined prevalence of infestation with intestinal geohelminths treatable by albendazole and other intestinal parasites non-treatable by albendazole was 50.3% (457/909) and 51.6% (469/909), respectively. Exclusive use of hand pump water (OR = 1.79, CI = 1.36-2.35, P CONCLUSION: Since almost half the children are infected with intestinal geohelminths treatable by albendazole, targeted deworming of population in this age group should be considered.
Awasthi
S
S
Department of Pediatrics, CSMMU (Upgraded King George Medical College), Lucknow, India. sawasthi@sancharnet.in
Verma
T
T
Kotecha
P V
PV
Venkatesh
V
V
Joshi
V
V
Roy
S
S
D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000871:Anthelmintics; D015766:Albendazole