title: Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections and their Association with Nutritional Status of Rural and Urban Pre-School Children in Benue State, Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Intestinal parasitic infections are highly prevalent in developing countries, contributing to high incidence of malnutrition and morbidity. This study aimed to find the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and their association with nutritional status of children in Benue State, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study conducted from January-June 2016, among 418 school children under-5 years of age. Anthropometric data, height-for-age, weight-for-height, and weight-for-age Z-scores from each child and fecal samples were collected and screened for intestinal parasites using standard laboratory methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the intestinal parasitic infections detected, the prevalence ofE. histolyticawas higher (51.0% and 29.0%) than all other parasites encountered in rural and urban pupils (P<0.05). Other parasites were Hookworm (46.2% and 24.8%);G. lamblia(11.5% and 8.6%); andT. trichiura(2.4% and 5.2%). The prevalence of stunting (HAZ<-2), in rural and urban pupils were 43.8% and 32.9%; 64.4% and 39.0% rural and urban pupils were underweight (WAZ<-2), while 30.3% and 24.3% were wasted (WHZ<-2). Infected children had significantly (P<0.05) higher z-scores than the uninfected children.
  Benue State is among the Nigerian states with the highest burden of tropical diseases with a current plan of elimination implemented through mass drug administration. This study identify/evaluate some essential information that will support the planning and implementation of the State's ongoing efforts.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Kpurkpur
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tyoalumun
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Unit, University Medical Centre, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Sani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abubakar
authors.affiliation: Medical Laboratory, Comprehensive Health Care Centre Gboko, Benue, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Nongu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Christopher
keywords: Benue State-Nigeria; Intestinal Parasites; Nutritional Satus; Preschool Children; Rural-urban