Effects of soil- transmitted helminths and schistosoma species on nutritional status of children in Mwea Irrigation Scheme, Kenya
Loading...
Date
2016-04
Authors
Njiru, J.M.
Muhoho, N.
Simbauni, Jemimah A.
Kabiru, Ephantus W.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sciencedomain International
Abstract
Aim: Soil- transmitted helminths (STH) and schistosomiasis are a major public health problem in
Kenya as well as in many other tropical countries. Intestinal parasite infections have been
associated with malabsorption and nutrient loses that can lead to malnutrition. Malnutrition is
considered one of the most prevalent conditions among children in rural population. The aim of this
study was to investigate the effects of STH and S. mansoni parasite infections on nutritional status
of school children in Mwea rice Irrigation Scheme.
Study Design: The study was descriptive cross-sectional in design.
Methodology: The study was carried out in selected schools within Mwea Irrigation Scheme. The
sample size comprised 236 children at the baseline with 78 pupils from Kandongu, 89 from Kirogo
and 69 from Nyangati primary schools. A sub-sample of 103 pupils was randomly selected from the
sample population and used to assess the prevalence of anaemia. A sub-sample was necessary in
this case due to economic and logistic problems.
Results: Overall prevalence rate of geohelminths and Schistosoma infections was found to be
26%. There was a strong relationship between infection and malnutrition with the number of pupils infected and underweight being 59% compared to17.9% of non infected underweight. Helminth
infections were also associated with anaemia, with 65.7% of anaemic cases suffering from various
types of helminth infections.
Conclusion: The study has indicated that intestinal helminth infections, including soil transmitted
helminths and Schistosoma mansoni cause malnutrition and anaemia among the school children in
Mwea Irrigation Scheme, having been associated with severe, moderate to mild malnutrition as well
as anaemia.
Keywords: Soil- transmitted helminthes; Schistosoma mansoni; malnutrition; prevalence of infection;
irrigation.
Description
DOI: 10.9734/JALSI/2016/25053
Keywords
Soil- transmitted helminthes, Schistosoma mansoni, Malnutrition, Prevalence of infection, Irrigation.
Citation
Journal of Applied Life Sciences International 5;1, 2016; JALSI.25053 SCIENCEDOMAIN international