Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections and Their Associations with Hemoglobin Concentration and Anthropometric Measurements of School Children Injimma Arjo Primary School Children, Oromiya Region, Western Ethiopia

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Year:
2013
Type of Publication:
Article
Keywords:
Anemia, Anthropometry, Intensity, Malnutrition, Prevalence, School Children, Soil Transmitted Helminth, School Children, Soil-Transmitted Helminth, Jimma Arjo
Authors:
Gemechis Gemeda; Sissay Menkir; Yitibarek Getachew
Journal:
IJISM
Volume:
1
Number:
1
Pages:
27-32
Month:
November
ISSN:
2347-–9
Abstract:
The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and intensity of major STH infections and their associations with major risk factors, hemoglobin concentration and anthropometric measurements of school children in JimmaArjo primary Schools of Oromia Region. A cross‐sectional study was carried from November to January, 2013 in JimmaArjopimary schools and 390 school-children were chosen using stratified random sampling technique and probability proportion to sample size for each class was used. Stool samples of 390 subjects aged 6-17 years were examined using Kato-Katz and formol-ether concentration methods. Direct smear was also employed only for watery stool to detect some intestinal parasites using 0.85% saline solution. 390 blood samples were also collected from the study participants for determination of hemoglobin concentration. Height, weight and body mass index (BMI) of each study participant were measured to determine nutritional status of children as stunted, wasted or underweight. Data were analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS version-16) and anthropometry calculating software program (AnthroPlus). The National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS) growth chart reference was used to determine the proportions of underweight/thinness among 10‐17 years old school-children. Hemoglobin level (concentration) was determined using Hemocue HB 201 analyzer. The overall prevalence of STH infection in the school children was 46.7% (182 of 390) and single, double, and triple infections were 32.1, 12.56% and 2.1% respectively. The prevalence of hookworm, A. lumbricoides, T.trichiura, H. nana and E. vermicularis infections were 31.5%, 20.8%, 5.4%, 1.5%, and 0.8%, respectively. The mean egg count of hookworm, A. lumbricoides and T.trichiura were 2198.2±173.1, 2349.12±257.18and 248.7±31.4eggper gram of feaces, respectively. The prevalence of malnutrition in terms of stunting, underweight and wasting was 13%, 17% and 20%, respectively, for those aged from 6-9 years and 39.7% underweight/thinness for those aged from 10-17 years. The overall prevalence of anemia was 13.6%. The findings showed that there was no statistically significant association between STH infections and malnutrition (P>0.05). However, there was significant association between STH infections and anemia (P
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