Intestinal helminth infections and nutritional status of children attending primary schools in Wakiso District, Central Uganda.
A cross-sectional study to assess the prevalence of intestinal helminth infections and nutritional status of primary school children was conducted in the Wakiso district in Central Uganda. A total of 432 primary school children aged 6-14 years were randomly selected from 23 schools. Anthropometric measurements of weight, height, MUAC were undertaken and analyzed using AnthroPlus software. Stool samples were examined using a Kato-Katz method. The prevalence of stunting, underweight and moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) was 22.5%, 5.3% and 18.5% respectively. Males had a threefold risk of being underweight (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.17-9.4, p = 0.011) and 2 fold risk of suffering from MAM (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.21-3.48, p = 0.004). Children aged 10-14 years had a 2.9 fold risk of stunting (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.37-6.16, p = 0.002) and 1.9 risk of MAM (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.07-3.44, p = 0.019). Attending urban slum schools had 1.7 fold risk of stunting (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.03-2.75, p = 0.027). Rural schools presented a twofold risk of helminth infection (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.12-3.32, p = 0.012). The prevalence of helminth infections was (10.9%), (3.1%), (1.9%), (0.2%) for hookworm, Trichuriatrichiura, Schistosomamansoni and Ascarislumbricoides, respectively. The study revealed that 26.6%, 46% and 10.3% of incidences of stunting, underweight and MAM respectively were attributable to helminth infections.
Department of Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Central Region, +256, Uganda.
Francis
F
Lwanga
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Central Region, +256, Uganda.
Barbara Eva
BE
Kirunda
Department of Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Central Region, +256, Uganda.
Christopher Garimoi
CG
Orach
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000209:etiology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology