Schistosoma mansoni Infections, Undernutrition and Anaemia among Primary Schoolchildren in Two Onshore Villages in Rorya District, North-Western Tanzania

Abstract

Background

Undernutrition and anaemia remains to be a major public health problem in many developing

countries, where they mostly affect children. Intestinal parasitic infections are known to

affect both growth and haemoglobin levels. Much has been reported on the impact of geohelminths

on anaemia and undernutrition, leaving that of Schistosoma mansoni not well

studied. Therefore this study intended to determine the association between S.mansoni

infections, anaemia and undernutrition among schoolchildren in Rorya district, Northwestern

Tanzania.

Methodology

A cross-sectional study was carried among schoolchildren in two onshore villages namely

Busanga and Kibuyi in Rorya district. Single stool specimens were collected from 513 randomly

selected schoolchildren and processed for microscopic examination using the Kato-

Katz method. Nutritional status was determined by anthropometry. Blood samples were

also collected and examined for malaria parasites and haemoglobin levels using the Giemsa

stain and HaemoCue methods, respectively. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect

socio-demographic data and associated factors.

Results

The prevalence of S. mansoni infection and malaria was 84.02% and 9.16%, respectively.

Other parasites found were Ascaris lumbricoides (1.36%) and Hookworm (1.36%). The

prevalence of stunting and wasting was 38.21% and 14.42%, respectively. The prevalence

of anaemia was 29.43%, whereby 0.58% had severe anaemia. S. mansoni infection was

not found to be associated with undernutrition or anaemia (p>0.05). The risk of stunting and wasting increased with increasing age (p