Impact and factors associated with gastro-intestinal parasitic infections among pupils in Thika District, Kenya
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Date
2009
Authors
Ngonjo, Teresia Wambui
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Intestinal parasitic infections are amongst the most common human infections
worldwide. It is estimated that some 3.5 billion people are affected, and that 450 million
are ill as a result of these infections, the majority being children. These parasites remain a
major health problem in many developing countries. The study set out to investigate the
factors that influence intestinal parasitic infections and their effect on growth status of
school going children. The study was conducted in four public primary schools namely,
Athena (peri-urban), Kathambara (rural), Kianjau (slum) and St.Patrick (urban) aU in
Thika district, Kenya. The stools were collected from children and examined for
helminthiasis by kato-katz technique. Protozoa were examined using formol ether
concentration method and fresh saline smears. Anthropometric measurements of weight
and height of subjects were taken to determine the relationships of intestinal parasitic
burden and degree of stunting, wasting and malnutrition. Information on family
background of the study subjects was obtained through a standard pre-tested
questionnaire. Chi square and one way Anova tests were used for comparing infection by
sex, age, the risk factors of intestinal parasitic diseases and to compare mean heights and
weights between children in the four schools. Prevalence of intestinal helminthes in
children of peri-urban, rural, slum and urban schools were 38.9%, 48.9%, 48.9% and
31% respectively. Prevalence of intestinal protozoa of pupils in peri-urban, rural, slum
and urban schools were 46.3%, 38.9%, 34.8% and 28.7% respectively. Ascaris
lumbricoides infection was significantly higher in slum and rural than in peri-urban and
urban schools (x,2=14.425, df=3, p<0.05). Hookworm infection was significantly higher in
the rural and peri-urban schools than in urban and slum schools (r-15268, df=3,
p<O.Ol). Entamoeba histolytica was significantly higher in rural and slum schools than in
peri-urban and urban schools. (X~9.29, df=J, p<0.05). In the slum school, Ascaris
lumbricoides infection was significantly associated with the failure to wash hands before
meals (r=13.674, df=I, p<O.OI), type of toilet slab (xz=6.298, df=I, p<O.05), and toilet
sharing (x.~5.84, df=I, p<-O.05). Tn the rural school, Ascaris lumbricoides infection was
significantly associated with source of drinking water (r=8.902, df=3, p<O.05), and
failure to wash hands after toilets (x,~7.191, df=I, p<0.05). In the rural school,
Entamoeba histolytica infection was significantly associated with eating of tubers
(X2:=18.37, df=l , p<O.OOl). Nutritional parameters were an significantly different in
children of the four schools, stunting (low height for age), (x,2 =9.41, df=3, p<0.05);
wasting (low weight fur height), (x,~19.47,df=3.p<0.001) and malnultrition (low weight
for age) (r=11.97,df-=3, p<O.OOI). The results of this study indicate that the prevalence
of intestinal parasites in. the study area is high. This could impact negatively on the
intellectual, psychological and physical development of the school going children. The
results will help in intensifying efforts towards achieving the global control efforts to
reach 75% of children with intestinal parasites by year 2010. The results of this study WIll
be used in designing of community specific control strategy in Thika district deworming
programmes
Description
Department of Zoological Sciences, 107p. 2009, RJ 406 .G3N45